A.10.01 Unlock Regimes (National Policy)

Policy Standard

All High Medium and Remand units (except ACRP) are to operate a unlock regime between 0800 – 1700 hours.

The reasons for an 0800 – 1700 hours unlock regime include:

1. Providing a safer environment for prisoner management;
2. Reducing the opportunity for unstructured and unsociable activity that can lead to misconducts, intimidation, and group assaults on staff;
3. Providing an incentive for reduction in security classification as per prisoner placement;
4. Providing consistency on unlock regimes across the country; and, .
5. Ensuring they unlock regimes are consistent with the allocated funding and Workplace Development Project (WDP) for these units.

All Low Medium and Minimum Units must operate an unlock regime that reflects the WDP and funding of the unit.

Performance Standards

Except in certain circumstances all:

1. High Medium units are to operate an unlock regime between 0800 – 1700 hours;
2. All Remand Units (with the exception of ACRP) are to operate an unlock regime between 0800 – 1700 hours;
3. ACRP unlock hours will continue to be in accordance with its shift patterns;
4. All Low Medium and Minimum Units must operate an unlock regime that reflects the WDP and funding of the unit, however it may be appropriate to reduce the unlock hours on occasion as listed in section 5 below;
5. In situations where it is appropriate to reduce the unlock hours for a limited period (e.g. during the Christmas period) for Low and Medium units the responsible Assistant Regional Manager (ARM) must advise the National Manager Inmate Movement (Head Office) of:
   1. any change to the prescribed unlock regime;
   2. the reason the change;
   3. the anticipated length of the time for the change;
   4. the ARM must notify the National Manager Inmate Movement when normal unlock is resumed.
6. In situations where it is appropriate to reduce the unlock hours for a extended period (e.g. significant staff shortages) for Low and Medium units approval from both the respective Regional Manager and Assistance General Manager is required. The information contain in sections 5.1 to 5.4 above must be provided.

Prisoners Denied Standard Unlock Period

1. A prisoner may be denied, for a period of time that is reasonable in the circumstances, of the standard unlock hours if there is an emergency in the prison or the security of the prison is threatened or if the health or safety of any person is threatened.
2. On the recommendation of a medical officer a prison manager may deny a prisoner subject to a segregation direction under section 60(1)(b) of the Act, access to the standard unlock hours.
3. A prisoner may be denied some the standard unlock hours entitlements if they are:
   1. undergoing a penalty of cell confinement (refer to Corrections Act 2004, Section 69 (4)); or
   2. segregated for purposes of security, good order, or safety; or for the purpose of protective custody (refer to Corrections Act 2004, Sections 58-59) and the prison manager considers that the prisoner is likely to damage prison property.