Triple Murderer Erin Patterson’s Isolation Nightmare: ‘Torture’ Behind Bars Sparks Fears for Her Sanity
- Erin Patterson, the ‘mushroom murderer’, is being kept in near-constant isolation, sparking fears for her mental wellbeing.
- A prisoner rights group claims her treatment is tantamount to torture, citing UN rules that prohibit solitary confinement beyond 15 consecutive days.
- Patterson’s supporters are pushing for her to receive peer counselling to improve her mental health at no cost to the state.
- The 51-year-old was convicted of murdering three relatives with death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons and is serving 33 years behind bars.
In a shocking revelation, it has emerged that Erin Patterson, the woman convicted of murdering three relatives with poisoned beef Wellingtons, is being kept in near-constant isolation, sparking fears for her mental wellbeing.
The 51-year-old is currently serving 33 years behind bars at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, west of Melbourne, where she is confined to a cell for a minimum of 22 hours a day.
According to prisoner rights group Justice Action, Patterson’s conditions are tantamount to torture, with the group invoking UN rules named after Nelson Mandela, which state that a person should not spend more than 15 consecutive days in solitary confinement.
The group is advocating on Patterson’s behalf for her to receive peer counselling to improve her mental wellbeing at no cost to the state.
Justice Action co-ordinator Brett Collins, a former inmate himself, says Patterson’s treatment is unacceptable and that she is entitled to be treated like any other prisoner.
‘She’s a frightened woman, understandably so,’ Collins told AAP.
‘She’s actually been now isolated for such a long time, and she’s already had those disorders before she was convicted, so now we’ve heard she’s unused to people being around her.’
The group is proposing that Patterson be permitted a trained peer support mentor to help address and mitigate the psychiatric risks associated with her prolonged isolation.
The concern is that Patterson’s prolonged isolation could lead to permanent damage to her mental health, with Collins describing the treatment as ‘torture, actually’.
Patterson’s case has sparked a heated debate about the use of solitary confinement in Australian prisons.
While the Department of Justice and Community Safety has refused to comment on individual prisoners or their placements, a spokesperson said that all prisoners have regular contact with prison staff, health professionals, lawyers, and chaplains.
However, Collins argues that Patterson’s case is unique due to the nature of her crime, which has made her a target for other female prisoners. ‘What they’re arguing is that other prisoners are hating her because of what she did,’ Collins said.
‘There’s like a women’s expectation as well, that the family that ate with her trusted her and that there was a breach of that trust.’
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The use of solitary confinement in Australian prisons is a contentious issue, with many arguing that it can have serious and long-lasting effects on a person’s mental health.
In Patterson’s case, the prolonged isolation has sparked fears that she may be at risk of psychological decline.
The fact that she is being kept in isolation due to the risks she faces from other prisoners raises serious concerns about the safety and security of prisoners in Australian jails.
Security analysts say that the use of solitary confinement can be a necessary measure to protect prisoners from harm, but it must be used judiciously and with careful consideration for the potential consequences.
‘The use of solitary confinement should be a last resort, and only used in extreme cases where there is a clear risk to the prisoner’s safety,’ said one analyst.
The case also raises questions about the treatment of female prisoners in Australian jails. While Patterson’s crime was heinous, her treatment behind bars must be guided by a commitment to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
‘We need to ensure that all prisoners, regardless of their crimes, are treated with dignity and respect,’ said Collins.
As the debate around solitary confinement continues, one thing is clear: Erin Patterson’s case is a stark reminder of the need for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to prison reform in Australia.