The new charge of aggravated assault on a Corrective Services Officer has been applied for the first time.
The charge relates to an incident at the Borallon Training and Correctional Centre on 21 July when a 20-year-old prisoner allegedly spat at an officer who was undertaking a cell search.
The prisoner will appear to answer to the charge on 14 October.
The new offence was passed by Parliament as part of the Corrective Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020.
The legislation covers aggravating circumstances, such as biting, spitting and throwing bodily materials. The maximum penalty is 14 years’ imprisonment.
Commissioner for Corrective Services, Peter Martin (pictured) welcomed the charge.
“The new legislation recognises correctional officers as frontline public safety workers, in line with their peers in police and other emergency services,” Commissioner Martin said.
“Our officers deserve to be able to go home safely at the end of their shift, without facing abhorrent behaviour such as spitting or having bodily materials thrown at them.”
Meanwhile personal visits have been suspended to all South-East Queensland prisons on the advice of the Chief Health Officer following renewed incidents of COVID-19 in the community.
All other visits, including legal, service provider and official visits will continue with appropriate social distancing.
Every person entering a prison will undergo health screening including thermal imaging, and new prisoners will be subject to 14-day isolation protocols.
