Former inmate says conditions at New Amsterdam Women’s Prison appalling

Felicity Benjamin

Having endured four weeks under appalling conditions at the New Amsterdam Women’s Prison, former inmate Felicity Benjamin wants to highlight the atrocities she endured so that change can be wrought, while also urging young women to stay out of trouble to avoid being sent there.

For Benjamin the experience was worse than she could have ever imagined. Apart from having to share a single bathroom and toilet with dozens of women, she said the meals were of such poor quality as to make one sick.

The mother of two teenagers was on February 10 sentenced to one month in prison by a city magistrate after being continuously battered by a neighbour. While she was slapped with three charges, he faced one. They were both found guilty and sentenced to one month in prison,