F.16 Kiosks

Kiosks enable prisoners to source personal information by providing access to their information and an efficient way to independently engage and receive services such as requests to see a PCO or a Case Manager, view trust account balances, view custodial dates and make a canteen order.

Kiosk access

Kiosks are placed in units to give prisoners easy access. Prisoners are free to access the Kiosk at appropriate times provided for during normal daily unit routine.

Prisoners will access the Kiosk one person at a time to make sure their personal information is kept private.

All prisoners (other than those with a physical or mental impediment) will be fingerprinted to enable them to access Kiosk services via fingerprint identification.

Fingerprinting

All new arrivals will be fingerprinted. A minimum of three digits must be printed three times (i.e. a total of nine prints).
(Refer POM I.02.08 Kiosk Registration).

If fingerprints are not recognised or a prisoner refuses to be fingerprinted
(see resource Fingerprinting for Kiosk).

PIN allocation

Once new arrival has been fingerprinted, a four digit PIN will be selected by the prisoner (or allocated by a staff member) and entered into IOMS.(Refer POM I.02.09 Kiosk Registration).

Cleaning and Maintenance

Instructions for the maintenance and cleaning of Kiosks and PCs are in the new section Kiosk maintenance and cleaning in the Custodial Practice Manual.

The SCO or a staff member, designated by the supervising officer of the unit, will have the responsibility for ensuring that the Kiosk is clean and in working order at the commencement of their shift and once completed, record that they have maintained and/or cleaned the Kiosk in the unit log book.

Kiosk continuous improvement

Any changes to enhance existing information must be approved by the business owner.

Requests to enhance or add new information to existing static information should be forwarded to the Manager Custodial Practice, National Office for consideration.

Changes to Kiosk Functionality

Any changes to Kiosk functionality (disabling certain functions for a period of time e.g. meeting requests or ability to place Canteen orders) must follow the “Exemption Process" (see Custodial Practice Manual - CS Policy and Procedure Exemption Process) and be initiated by the prison director in consultation with the manager regional administration for approval by the National Commissioner.

Any system changes (e.g. to disable a function) once approved, will be made by the site team leader who must see the exception approval documents or emails prior to making the change.

Help Desk

The Corrections Services Helpdesk can be contacted for training and operational issues and in cases where staff doesn’t know how to use the Kiosk.

The PCO or designated staff member will call the Spark Helpdesk in the event of damage to the Kiosk or if there is a technical fault.
(See resource Canteen Contingency Plan (CCP).)

Meeting Requests

Prisoners will use the Kiosk to request a meeting with the PCO and their case manager. The request will be emailed to the recipient. The service level agreements are as follows:

  1. Case Management
    1. A meeting request will be responded to within ten working days of the request being made.
    2. The prisoner may make only one request (to meet a case manager) each month via the Kiosk. Any additional requests need to be made via unit staff.
  2. Principal Corrections Officer (PCO)
    1. A meeting request will be acknowledged by unit staff within three working days of the PCO being notified.
    2. If necessary a meeting with the prisoner will take place within five working days after the acknowledgement.
    3. The prisoner may make only one request a week, via the Kiosk. Any additional requests need to be made via unit staff.

Administration for the Canteen Process

There are a number of functions that can be adjusted by the Regional Administration to alter the settings at each prison such as adding new products, amending product costs or hiding products that may not be available for purchase in a given week.

Canteen Contingency Plan (CCP)

  1. If the Kiosks stop functioning at any time the Canteen Contingency Plan (CCP) can be invoked by the Prison Director or delegate.
    (See resource Canteen Contingency Plan (CCP).)