G.05 Prisoner Finance and Purchases (National Policy)

Authority for Policy

• Treasury Mode B - Manual Instructions - Part 6 - Trust Money

Policy Standard

• Prisoner money is managed through the Trust Account in accordance with accepted accounting standards.

Performance Standards

1. Trust Accounts are operated to accepted accounting standards, and comply with the Public Finance Act, Corrections Regulations 2005 and Treasury Instructions.
2. An individual Trust Account is established to manage a prisoner’s personal fund following his / her reception.
3. All incoming prisoner funds are credited to his / her specified account.
4. Each deduction from a prisoner’s Trust Account is authorised by him / her in writing.
5. Expenditure by a prisoner does not exceed the balance of funds held in his/her Trust account.
6. Welfare and Special Purpose Fund Accounts are established at the Prison Manager's discretion and managed according to their approved operational charter.
7. Reasonable access is given for prisoners to spend their own money on personal items that are not provided by the prison.
8. Each prison has a written purchasing procedure that identifies the timetable, purchase and delivery of prisoner’s requested goods.
9. Each prisoner acknowledges in writing the receipt of items / goods he / she has purchased.
10. Emergency stocks of smoking requisites and phone cards may be held at the prison at the discretion of the Prison Manager.
11. Any emergency stock is held in a secure location and accessed only by designated staff.
12. A stock take and balance is undertaken fortnightly of any emergency stocks.
13. Emergency stocks are held and managed in line with approved stock control procedures.
14. Prisoners do not purchase mail order goods and services (i.e. newspaper / magazines subscriptions), rentals or hire purchases.
15. Earnings from a prisoner on release to work are managed in an Administration account (“Work Parole Earnings Account”) within the Trust Account.
16. Trust balances are to be limited to a maximum of $200.00 per prisoner at any one time, unless specific approval of the Prison Manager is obtained.
17. Prisoner trust account expenditure is to be limited to a maximum of $70.00 per week.  Expenditure above this amount and purchases for exceptional one off purchases, for example prescription glasses, will require the Unit Manager’s approval.
18. Prisoners are able to purchase phone cards via the canteen shopping system, inclusive of their $70.00 weekly expenditure. 
19. Prisoners are still permitted to have phone cards sent in via mail or received via visits.
20. Prison staff must use discretion on establishing reasonable amounts of phone cards and total value in order that they are not used as currency when issued.
21. All issued cards whether purchased or provided by family must be endorsed with the prisoner's name in indelible ink.
22. Prisoners have a maximum of $60.00 worth of phone cards in their cell or possession at one time.
23. Prisoners must be advised on reception that their trust money may be monitored if there are grounds to believe that the account, or trust money, is being used for any unlawful purpose.
24. Prisoners are not to be prevented from sending funds out of the prison at any time, including prior to release.