The Queensland Human Rights Commission has recommended the elimination of strip searches in women's prisons.

The commission says these invasive practices strip away dignity without enhancing prison safety.

The comprehensive review, which consulted both inmates and prison staff across all five of Queensland's women's prisons, unveiled the severe emotional toll inflicted by strip searches. “You are stripped of everything. They don't just strip your clothes; they strip away your dignity,” one incarcerated individual said.

The report showed that strip searches scarcely uncover concealed contraband, making them ineffective in achieving their purported purpose. 

Furthermore, they prove particularly detrimental to those with histories of physical or sexual violence, a category that encompasses two-thirds of female prisoners.

Collaborating with Queensland Corrective Services (QCS), the Commission has put forth two dozen recommendations, including stricter guidelines for the timing of strip searches. 

The report advocates replacing the dehumanising procedures with modern technological alternatives for drug and contraband detection.

One such alternative proposed is the installation of body scanners in prisons, offering a less invasive method for inspections. 

A trial of this technology is slated to commence at a women's prison in 2024. 

Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall says that transitioning to a more humane environment would benefit not only inmates but also the prison staff and the broader community.

Prison employees, surveyed as part of the review, echoed these sentiments, denouncing strip searches as “dehumanising” and “counterproductive”

Minister for Police Mark Ryan says that Queensland Corrective Services will carefully consider the report's recommendations as part of its commitment to prison safety. 

A trial of body scanner technology is already scheduled for 2024, with $11 million allocated for its full implementation across women's correctional facilities after the trial concludes.

Inmates interviewed in the report indicated that the prospect of strip searches deterred them from receiving family visits, a poignant reminder of the emotional strain these procedures impose.

The full report is accessible here.