Hello all,
Here is some information on discipline in NSW prisons. This information comes from the NSW Department of Corrective Services site. I though it may interest those of you with loved ones inside. I will be posting more information about NSW prisons in the coming weeks.



Discipline in correctional centres is primarily the responsibility of governors, who are in charge of the institutions.

The ways in which discipline is to be imposed and maintained are set out in the Prison Regulations, which are based on the Correctional Centres Act 1952, and the Prison Rules.

The Prison Regulations list a number of offences against correctional centre discipline, including :


concealment for purpose of escape
possession of articles for use in escape or other offences
obstruction of correctional officers
fighting
assaults
riots
injuring animals
damaging property
throwing articles
unauthorised alteration or possession of prison property
stealing
tampering with food or drink
tattooing
gambling
consumption of alcohol
use of drugs
smoking in non-smoking areas
bribery
Some of these offences may be dealt with by the correctional centre governor. The governor has the power, if the offence is proved, to confine the offender to his or her cell for a maximum of three days.

Offences may also be dealt with by a magistrate, known as a Visiting Justice, who visits a correctional centre for that purpose.

The Visiting Justice has the power to confine an offender to his or her cell for a maximum of 28 days.

Escapees, after their recapture, are usually held in maximum security and can face an additional sentence if found guilty by the courts.

The daily correctional centre timetable is strictly adhered to. There are some differences in these timetables, particularly between minimum, medium and maximum security institutions.

The daily routine is different at weekends from normal working days.

There is some overlapping between measures to ensure security and those to maintain good order and discipline. For example, inmates' letters may be opened and inspected for possible contraband. They are read if it is suspected the contents may adversely affect the security or the good order and discipline of the correctional centre.

The number and type of personal possessions an inmate may keep in his or her cell are determined by the Governor.

When entering a correctional centre for the first time an inmate must hand over all personal items he or she has in his or her possession at the time.

Both discipline and security are maintained by continual searching of all areas of correctional centres, including cells, and the inmates themselves.

Under the Prison Regulations, inmates are bound to adhere to basic hygiene and personal cleanliness. They are required to keep their cells, clothing and bedding in good order and neatly arranged. They must wear correctional centre clothing issued to them, unless granted special permission to do otherwise.

A prisoner must obey a governor's instructions concerning washing, bathing, shaving and the cutting of hair.

The governor, or any officer nominated by him or her, has the right to inspect, but not read, documents brought into a correctional centre by a barrister, solicitor or solicitor's clerk.

In the interests of both discipline and security there are a number of rules regarding visits to inmates.

Usually only four adult visitors per inmate at a time are permitted. During visits no items may be given to inmates by their visitors, and vice versa. Visitors are also asked to provide identification.

A strict record of all visits is kept by each institution, and a visitor may be denied entry to a correctional centre if it is judged the visit could adversely affect the discipline, good order or security of the institution.

The correctional centre also has the right, under Prison Regulations, to search both inmates and their visitors.

Drugs, including alcohol, are strictly forbidden in correctional centres. The exceptions are tobacco and drugs prescribed by doctors for medical reasons. Although there are restrictions on the areas where both inmates and correctional staff may smoke.

Kerrie
This sounds the same as visiting a prison in Queensland. When you visit a maximum security prison, you are allocated a locker, and a key, and ALL personal belongings have to go inside your locker. All you are allowed to take into the prison is your locker key, and thats all they allow you to take inside. Visitors stand in a circle, and a drug sniffer dog goes through each visitor, then you are required to go into a pod, where they give you a personal pin number, and it is based on your biorythmns. You do this when you first start visiting, and your pincode remains the same. While in the pod, you put your pin number in, and you get three LOUD (sounds like gunshots, scared the hell out of me the first few times) go off, and a puff of air, that goes up, and circulates, while you stand in the pod for 45 seconds. Then the doors release, and you are allowed to enter the prison. Prior to that, you go through a metal detector (and most shoes these days have metal in the heels) so normally you need to take your shoes off. Belts, etc, are not allowed in the prison, or jewellery, other than a wedding band.

When you arrive, you line up, and you can put money in a trust account for your loved one. There are 2 different types of trust accounts, one where there comissary money goes into, and a phone account. (You can only put up to $50 a day in there) on each account. You are then allocated a table number, and are given an ID to wear around your neck. ALL visitors have to wear this. Even non contact. If it is a non contact visit, you get allocated a booth.

Make sure also, (each prison is different) that in a contact visit, you use the bathrooms. If you need to used the bathrooms while in a contact visit, the visit automatically is terminated, and you are made to go to non contact. Visiting times depend on the security that your loved one is at.

Any questions related to Visiting a inmate in a Queensland prison, anybody can feel free to ask me anytime, else I would end up writing a book on it in here. :)