Prisoners who enter the system have more often than not come from hardship, and are battling some sort of addiction.

So a prison system that fails to address those issues is in itself a failure.

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Over the past week, commentary around Tasmania's prison system has focused on internal lockdowns, and the effects those lockdowns have on prisoner mental health. For years Risdon Prison has been overcrowded, and understaffed.

Last week's damning report from the Custodial Inspector revealed there were 605 lockdowns at Risdon in one month alone - 186 of those were due to staff shortages.

Days after the report was released, it was revealed a remandee had been held at the Launceston Reception Prison for three months with no access to sunlight or fresh air.

While the accusations made by a lawyer on behalf of her client in the Launceston Supreme Court were still being followed up, the Justice Department has a lot to answer for if it has allowed its staffing levels to get to this point.

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The Launceston Reception Prison has never been designed as long-term accommodation for prisoners, and even if it were, a person should never be denied those basic human rights, especially not for such an extended period of time.

Lockdowns, and solitary confinement have been used in prison facilities across the world for centuries, but research has found such isolation can cause psychological damage, including depression, anxiety, and even hallucinations.

The department has a responsibility to not only carry out justice, but to house prisoners, and ensure they are provided with the appropriate support and programs so they can be released as a functioning member of society. Yes there are dangerous criminals in prison, and they deserve to be incarcerated.

But what good does it do the community to lock a person up like a wild animal, and take away their basic human rights, only to release them back into society in a worse mental state than when they entered?

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