The Impact of COVID-19 on Prisoners’ Rights - What Barristers Need to Know

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Prisoners in NSW have experienced:

• large deterioration in mental health caused by denial of in-person visits, especially for First Nations prisoners and those with mental health issues;
• strict quarantine arrangements; and
• denial of activities and services through COVID-19 measures.

Numerous public health experts have been called to give evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on bail, sentencing, early release, and high-risk offender matters. 

Each of the experts on this CPD panel will consider the health, psychosocial and mental health impacts on prisoners in NSW providing barristers with a thorough understanding of the key issues that need to be considered in representing clients who are in custody or responding to these key issues where your opponent’s client is in custody.

Chair: 

• The Honourable Justice Julia Lonergan 

Speakers:

• Dr Andrew Ellis – Forensic Psychiatrist, Clinical Director and Medical Superintendent of the Forensic Hospital in Sydney. Dr Ellis will present on the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on prisoners and how this may affect their rights.
• Professor Eileen Baldry – Professor Eileen Baldry AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity Diversity and Inclusion, UNSW. Professor Baldry will present on the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on prisoners and how this may affect their rights. 
• Professor Tony Butler – Program Head, Justice Health Research Program, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW. Professor Butler will speak about the health impacts of COVID-19 on prisoners and how this may affect their rights. 

Each speaker will be given 20 minutes to speak with 30 minutes for Q&A at the end facilitated by the Chair. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions at registration.

The webinar has been organised by the NSW Bar Associations Human Rights Committee.