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The Office of the Chief Executive employs about 60 staff and manages key functions including:

The General Manager of the Office of the Chief Executive is Mike Martelli.

Inspectorate
The Inspectorate’s role and functions are set out in the Corrections Act 2004. The team reports directly to the Chief Executive on matters which affect the safe, fair and humane containment of offenders and the integrity of the sentence administration. To ensure the independence of its investigations, it sits within the Office of the Chief Executive, independent of Prison Services, Community Probation & Psychological Services and any external service providers.

Inspectors regularly visit prisons to view the facilities, interview prisoners and staff, and resolve complaints. The Inspectorate investigates all deaths in custody and may also investigate other serious incidents or allegations of abuse.

The Inspectorate reports to the Assurance Board, which approves the annual inspection programme. It reviews recommendations of relevant reports and monitors any corrections actions that need to be taken.
The Inspectorate also has the delegated authority to carry out reviews of superintendents’ decisions in relation to temporary releases, escorted outings and visitor prohibition orders. An inspector may also dismiss, upon request, disciplinary charges that have not been dealt with in a reasonable time.

An 0800 phone line is operated by the Inspectorate, enabling prisoners’ concerns to be heard directly by an inspector, should they be unwilling or unable to make contact by other means.

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Internal Audit
The Internal Audit team is responsible for helping Corrections achieve its objectives without assuming unacceptable levels of risk. This involves review of systems and procedures and the provision of timely, independent, objective advice on significant issues.

Services include: Operational audits, security and custodial audits, financial audits, IT audits, Professional Standards Unit, Quality assurance and advisory reports

The Internal Audit team also supports groups and services to implement risk management practices and robust self-review mechanisms.

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Communications
The Communications Unit is responsible for the development and implementation of reputational strategies, policies and procedures that support achievement of the primary goals and outcomes contained in the Department’s Strategic Business Plan and Statement of Intent.

Other responsibilities include development and coordination of implementation of communications strategies for major projects managed by other groups and services. It also provides services to the offices of theMinister and Associate Minister of Corrections and safeguards Corrections’ graphic identity.

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Legal Services Team
The Legal Services Team provides legal advice and associated legal services at both corporate and operational level including matters relating to public law, contracts, policy and procedure development, legislative changes and dispute resolution. The team also monitors legislative changes, the statutory compliance programme and legal risk for the Chief Executive.

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Professional Standards Unit
The Professional Standards Unit (established in 2007) is staffed by investigators with experience in managing criminal and corruption investigations. The purpose of this group is to undertake proactive or reactive investigations of allegations or instances of suspected corrupt activities, either prior to, or together with, any Police investigation.

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Private Secretary to the Minister and Associate Minister of Corrections
The roles of Private Secretary to the Minister and Associate Minister of Corrections are seconded positions for a fixed term. Acting as a liaison between the Department and the Ministers, their duties include providing timely support and advice to the Ministers, analysing Cabinet papers, briefings and media issues, managing ministerial correspondence, managing oral and written questions and liaising with other Ministers’ offices and other Government agencies.

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