Corrections Act 1997

The Director may, for the security or good order of the prison or the prisoners or detainees, at any time order a correctional officer or State Service corrections employee to – search or examine, or search and examine, any part of the prison; or search or examine, or search and examine, any vehicle, equipment, container or other thing in the prison; or conduct any search or examination, or search and examination, under this subsection at random.

The Director may, for the security or good order of the prison or the prisoners or detainees, at any time order a correctional officer to – search or examine, or search and examine, a prisoner or detainee, a visitor to the prison, a correctional officer or any person appointed or employed for the purposes of this Act or any other person in the prison; or instead of or as well as a formal search required under section 20, require a person wishing to enter the prison to submit to a search or examination, or search and examination, of the person and of anything in the person's possession or under the person's control; or conduct any search or examination, or search and examination, under this subsection at random.

If a person other than a prisoner, detainee, correctional officer or State Service corrections employee refuses to submit to a search or examination, or search and examination, under this section while inside the prison, the Director may order the person to leave the prison immediately.

A person who disobeys a Director's order under subsection (2) is guilty of an offence. Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units.

A search or examination, or search and examination, of a female visitor under this section is to be made by a female officer and in the presence of females only.

In carrying out a search or examination, or search and examination, pursuant to an order of the Director given under this section, a correctional officer or State Service corrections employee may employ – such assistance as he or she believes on reasonable grounds to be necessary for the purpose; and such means as he or she believes on reasonable grounds to be necessary for the purpose including, but not limited to, scanning devices and detection devices.