An investigation into the humane treatment of women in Canberra's prison has raised concerns about the mental healthcare afforded to two detainees and the lack of employment opportunities.
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But the Human Rights Commissioner has found the treatment of women at the Alexander Maconochie Centre is a vast improvement on the days of the ACT's old Belconnen Remand Centre, where "systemic discrimination" existed.
Human Rights and Discrimination Commissioner Helen Watchirs delivered a detailed audit of women's treatment in the AMC, which made 61 recommendations to government.
The prison houses a relatively small number of women at any one time, with an average of about 14.
Dr Watchirs found that the low population presented "genuine challenges" in ensuring women had the same opportunities as male detainees.
She said the most urgent problem facing women was the lack of structured employment opportunities through a prison-based industry inside the AMC.
The commissioner also expressed concern over the mental health treatment of two women, who were kept in the prison's crisis support unit for more than 100 days.
That unit is designed to be the short term and for times of crisis only.
Dr Watchirs' report also called for proper facilities for the transitional release of women, designed to help them adjust back to normal public life.
But, on the whole, she said women reported feeling as though they were treated humanely and with dignity.
She said there had been a marked cultural shift at the centre in the past five years, and it was far better than the previous remand centre, which closed down in 2007.
"We're now probably the leading jurisdiction, we have very few strip searches, usually only on induction, and a lot of de-escalation and prevention of violence, which is really good," she said.
"Women agree, most of them, that they were respected as human beings and treated with dignity, as opposed to an adversarial mentality in other jurisdictions."
But she urged the government to use her human rights audit of the prison as a guide for improving its treatment of women.
Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury welcomed the report on Thursday, and said the government would formally respond in due course.
He said the report reassured him that the prison was treating its female detainees well.
But he said the government would look at recommendations, including to provide proper employment opportunities.
“[Dr Watchirs] certainly identifies areas for improvement, but the underlying finding, of a generally positive environment, I think is one that gives me reassurance that we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
Dr Watchirs recommended against building a women-only facility, saying the low numbers would restrict the range of services that could be provided.
The report also expressed concern over a drop in the proportion of women staff employed at the AMC.
Dr Watchirs also made recommendations for the prison's ability to cater to women who want to have their children, aged four years or younger, with them.
The report was tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
