Corrections Regulations 2018

Corrections Regulations 2018

17 July 2018

I, the Administrator in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Corrections Act 1997.

These regulations may be cited as the Corrections Regulations 2018.

These regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the Gazette.

In these regulations –

Act means the Corrections Act 1997.

In this Part –

classification committee means the classification committee established under regulation 5.

The Director is to establish a committee for the purpose of classifying prisoners and detainees on their admission to prison.

The Director may appoint any person as a member of the classification committee on any terms and conditions that the Director determines.

The classification committee is to classify prisoners and detainees having regard to – age and character; and length of sentence; and nature of offence; and behaviour during current, and any previous, period of imprisonment; and escape history; and any other relevant factor.

A prisoner or detainee may be classified into any one of the following security categories:maximum; medium; minimum.

A prisoner or detainee may be reclassified at any time if, in the opinion of the classification committee, it is necessary or desirable to do so.

Each prisoner or detainee is to be accommodated – if practicable, in a separate cell; or if it is not practicable to do so, in a cell with no more than 2 other prisoners or detainees.

Each prisoner or detainee is to be provided with a separate bed.

The Director may order that, in accordance with any standing orders, a prisoner or detainee be subject to – separate confinement; or the use of mechanical or chemical restraints.

A person authorised to carry out an order under subregulation (1) may use reasonable force in carrying out the order if the person considers it necessary to do so.

The Director is to ensure that a medical officer makes an inspection of a prison at least once every 3 months.

Following an inspection, the medical officer is to report to the Director on any matter that, in his or her opinion, constitutes a risk to the health of staff, prisoners or detainees.

If a medical officer certifies in writing that the failure of a prisoner or detainee to eat food provided in accordance with section 29(1)(b) of the Act is endangering the life or health of the prisoner or detainee, the Director may cause food to be fed to the prisoner or detainee.

The feeding of a prisoner or detainee under subregulation (1) is to be carried out under direct medical supervision.

A prisoner or detainee is responsible for –

his or her personal cleanliness and hygiene; and the cleanliness of any clothing in his or her possession; and the cleanliness of his or her cell.