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

16/11/2021

Webinar - Tuesday 16 November 2021

The NSW Bar Association's Human Rights Committee will host a CPD on "The Impact of COVID-19 on Prisoners' Rights - What Barristers Need to Know" on Tuesday 16 November at 5.00 pm. 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.

The expert 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. The panel includes Dr Andrew Ellis, Forensic Psychiatrist; Professor Eileen Baldry AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity Diversity and Inclusion, UNSW and Professor Tony Butler, Program Head, Justice Health Research Program, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW. The Honourable Justice Julia Lonergan will chair the event.

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.

This webinar is open to NSW Bar Association members and will be run by registration only. To register, please click here.