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Conference Session: Session III—What Might External Oversight Look Like? Brief Overviews of a Sampling of Inspection Models

Speaker(s): Michael Mushlin, Professor, Pace Law School (Moderator)

Anne Owers, Chief Inspector, British Prison Inspectorate

Cecilia Nordenfelt, Swedish Parliamentary Ombudsman for penal matters

Matthew Cate, California Inspector General

Richard Wolf, Executive Director, New York City Board of Corrections

Date:

Length: 41 minutes

Description: Four representatives of independent monitoring entities discuss their jurisdiction’s oversight model, including its structure, responsibilities, powers, and methodology. All of the panelists have unfettered access to correctional facilities in their jurisdiction, and their work focuses on the treatment of prisoners. Anne Owers describes the work of the British Prison Inspectorate, an independent governmental entity with the mandate to inspect all correctional facilities in England and Wales on a regular and routine basis and to publish reports detailing its findings. Cecilia Nordenfelt examines the role of the Swedish Parliamentary Ombudsman and how she reports to Parliament on her findings. Matthew Cate discusses his dual roles as the California Inspector General: he conducts investigations of wrongdoing by prison staff, and also conducts routine inspections of prisons. Richard Wolf addresses the responsibilities of an independent governmental monitoring entity at the local level, and how his staff handles complaints and monitors the New York City jail system’s compliance with standards.

The statements made here represent the speakers' own thoughts. Neither the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, nor any organization providing support for this effort necessarily endorses the views and statements included here.