The Office of the Inspector of Correctional Services (OICS) has announced its staff will not visit certain correctional centres during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office said OICS staff would not visit the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), Bimberi Youth Justice Centre or the Court cells during the crisis.
“This is in recognition of the risk of OICS staff bringing the virus into these facilities and the significant challenges faced by places of detention at this time,” the Office said.
“This does not impact any scheduled inspections,” it said.
“If a critical incident occurs at any of these facilities, this decision will be reviewed.”
The Office said it was very conscious of the further restrictions that had been placed on those who were deprived of their liberty in response to COVID-19.
“Therefore, the Inspector continues to monitor the situation in the AMC and Bimberi and is seeking regular updates on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.
“In addition, OICS is in communication with other bodies who have oversight of these facilities.”
The OICS said it had also been following the response of prisons in other Australian jurisdictions and overseas.
“This allows OICS to see what measures have and have not been successful in comparable jurisdictions,” it said.
