The International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) has praised Australia’s 25,000 corrections staff for keeping the community safe, as part of a global campaign to recognise the dedication of corrections workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ICPA, together with many non-Government associations around the globe, have come together to thank the world’s prison and parole officers for their commitment and professionalism.
Commissioner of Queensland Corrective Services (QCS), Peter Martin said he was proud of the way the 5,500 officers of QCS had worked to manage the risk of COVID-19 in a highly dynamic environment.
“Our officers have done a remarkable job in responding to the pandemic, developing new ways of working with prisoners and offenders to ensure that community safety was maintained,” Commissioner Martin said.
“We have seen the impacts of the pandemic in jurisdictions in other parts of the world, and the commitment our officers have shown in preventing COVID-19 entering our prisons has been commendable.”
He said community corrections officers had embraced new ways of supervising offenders in the community, adopting new technologies and changing the way they worked.
“I would like to thank all of our officers for their work at a time when there is significant personal and social impact from the virus,” he said.
“It is reflective of their professionalism and commitment to keeping our community safe. I hope the wider community will join us in saying: We applaud them,” the Commissioner said.
President of the ICPA, Peter Severin, who is also Commissioner of Corrective Services in NSW, said Custodial and Community Corrections staff should be applauded for their ongoing work during this challenging time.
“Even at the best of times, Australia’s corrections staff go to work each day and face often dangerous situations when managing inmates in prisons and offenders in the community,” Mr Severin said.
“Now our officers are adapting to the new challenge of COVID-19 by keeping our prisons and parole offices safe from the disease, while also ensuring the smooth and safe running of our facilities,” he said.
