1. Escape
“Escape” refers to any incident when a prisoner has become free of custodial control and is at large. All of the following criteria must be met for an incident to be classified as an escape:
- The prisoner must have been in lawful custody immediately prior to the incident;
- The prisoner must have physically left the general location where he or she was in custody (e.g., prison precincts, police cell, prison property work location, vehicle or court complex);
- The police or other Government agencies would normally be required, or were actually required, to help recapture the prisoner.
2. Attempted escape
“Attempted escape” refers to any incident when a prisoner has briefly become free of custodial control and is returned by prison staff members to lawful custody.
Typical examples are:
- A prisoner is observed either directly or indirectly (e.g. on camera) climbing over a fence, out of a window or otherwise leaving his appointed place of custody or work. Staff are dispatched immediately, give chase and apprehend the prisoner within minutes and secure him / her.
- A prisoner, either handcuffed or not, runs away from staff escort anywhere. Staff gives chase and apprehends the prisoner within minutes and secure him/her.
Where prisoners:
- Abscond as outlined under (a) or (b) above; and
- Are at large in the community; and
- Manage to avoid immediate recapture;
then this is classed as an escape.
3. Breakout escape
“Breakout Escape” refers to an escape where a prisoner has breached security measures provided the prisoner has physically left the prison precincts. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Going over, under, through or around security barriers
- Forced exit from facilities and/or staff custodial control
- Escaping while under the direct control of an officer, even though there may be no use of mechanical restraints
If a prisoner escapes while under the direct control of a prison staff member then this is a breakout escape, even though there may be no use of mechanical restraints.
4. Walkaway escape
“Walkaway Escape” refers to an escape where there is a breach of trust. Because of a management decision there are times when there is neither a physical barrier present designed to prevent escape nor a prison staff member directly and immediately supervising certain prisoners, and during such a time a prisoner leaves the prison precincts or departs his or her appointed place.
If the lack of a physical barrier or officer is because of an oversight by management or prison staff members, or because of staff failing to follow procedures, then this counts as a breakout escape. Typical walkaway escapes are as follows:
- Walking away from a minimum security (open) facility
- Walking away from an unsupervised (open) work place
5. Assault
“Assault” refers to any incident within the meaning of ‘assault’ as defined in the Crimes Act 1961. This may involve events that appear on the surface as little more than pushing and showing. All such incidents are initially reported as “alleged”.
6. Hungerstrike
“Hungerstrike” is defined as the limiting of food or liquid intake by a prisoner in a way that would be health-damaging if continued, and where the prisoner’s action continues for 24 hours or more. Hunger strikes lasting less than 24 hours also count as incidents when they meet one or more of the defined criteria for incidents under E.08.01.
7. Accident to a prisoner
“Accident to a prisoner” refers to any event other than assault or self harm resulting in an injury to a prisoner and where one more of the defined criteria as detailed in E.08.01 are met.
8. Events while on temporary release or temporary removal
“Events while on temporary release or temporary removal” (category 195 and 200) refers to specific incidents involving prisoners while on temporary release or temporary removal which are not coded elsewhere. Categories 195 and 200 are provided to enable the classification of incidents for which none of the other categories applies, and are not to be used if another category fits.
9. High profile prisoner
“High Profile Prisoner” means any prisoner who is likely to attract media attention throughout his or her sentence because of the nature of the offence committed and/or his or her role in society.
10. Self harm – threat to life
An attempted suicide should be classified as a self harm – threat to life if it does not result in death. To determine whether the self harm was or was not a threat to a prisoner’s life, the following factors must be considered:
- If the prisoner had not been found within a reasonably short time span, would he/she have died?
- Did the prisoner require hospitalisation as opposed to basic first aid attention?
