B.18 Cell Standards (National Policy)

Criteria

1. Cell standards apply to all prisoners irrespective of their security classification.
2. Cells standards are to be are maintained at all times to ensure the safety and security of staff and prisoners.

H.02.01 Cell Access

1. Staff are to have access to cells and any locked storage tanks / lockers containing prisoner property at all times. Two keys are required for any lock on storage tanks / lockers, one with the prisoner and one held by the unit staff.
2. Staff are to have access at all times without hindrance to all areas of a cell (and any locked storage tanks / lockers containing prisoner property at all times).
3. In the event of a prisoner being put on a misconduct charge and being removed from the cell area, the cell should be locked as soon as is practicable to ensure property is secured. When the prisoner is not present while cell property is being moved to another location, two staff must receipt the property list.

H.02.02 Cell Standards

Prison staff must ensure prisoners keep cells clean and tidy at all times, and:

1. Prisoners can only have approved property items that have been issued to them. No property is permitted in the cells without express authorisation (refer property process).
2. All property in cells is the responsibility of the prisoner.
3. Nothing is to be attached to the walls apart from the pin board provided (posters are not permitted on walls).
4. The observation window is to be unobstructed and accessible for inspection.
5. No prohibited, or unauthorised items, or items considered to be objectionable (refer section B.11.05.02) are allowed to be in the prisoners possession or in cells, such as:
   1. pornography (defined as any material depicting genitalia), are permitted in the cell, at any time.
   2. overtly violent, objectionable, occult (where access to such material is deemed to be prejudicial to reducing re-offending),
   3. gang related or other offensive material may be in the possession of a prisoner, or in their cell, at any time or,
   4. any other material prison staff considers may interfere with the effective management, security and good order of the prison.
6. Prison staff are to ensure electrical equipment, wiring and plugs have not been tampered with (the unit manager may direct any electrical appliance tampered with be removed from the prison).

Personal Computers

1. A personal computer is permitted to be kept in any cell if the prison manager is satisfied –
   1. that –
      1. the prisoner who uses the cell requires the use of a computer to complete an educational course; and
      2. access by the prisoner to a computer in the prison used by prisoners generally is not possible, or practicable, or will not be able to be provided in a manner that will enable the prisoner to complete the course; and
      3. the only programme or material that will be loaded or stored on the computer is material that is necessary for, and directly related to, the educational course; and
      4. the prisoner has agreed in writing that the computer will be removed from his or her cell –
         1. when the educational course for which the computer is needed, is completed; or
         2. if there is a change in circumstances that allows the prisoner to have adequate access to a computer used by prisoners generally; or
   2. that paragraph a does not apply but there are exceptional circumstances that justify the granting of permission.
2. Use of personal computer for the purpose of litigation refer to D.05.02.

Retention of Personal Computers in Cells

Prisoners resident in minimum security units, who have completed one formal, approved education programme using a computer, may keep a personal computer in a cell subject to the following conditions:

1. Use of the computer continues to be part of the prisoner’s sentence plan and is targeted towards re-integrative activities.
2. The prisoner agrees to fund the cost of a skilled computer technician conducting an initial check of the computer to ensure only appropriate and licensed software is installed, and there are no input or communication devices installed, and that all safety requirements are met.
3. The prisoner agrees to the computer being subject to searches and any other security or systems checks deemed necessary by the unit manager.
4. The prisoner agrees to the computer’s hard drive, or any other storage devices, being fully deleted on release, and pays for this to be undertaken. Before deleting the hard drive of the prisoner’s computer, approved files may first be copied to disk and retained by the prisoner.
5. The prisoner is not IDU status, and does not subsequently obtain IDU status.
6. Use of the computer does not in any way adversely impact on the running of the unit, or the prisoner’s ability to undertake work, programmes or other scheduled activities.
7. Retention of the computer is approved in writing by the regional manager.