NCJ Number
109649
Date Published
1987
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This discussion paper presents tentative recommendations by the Australian Law Reform Commission regarding the prison facilities, conditions, management procedures, and civil rights for Federal inmates and those imprisoned under the jurisdiction of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Abstract
There are no Federal prisons in Australia, and all persons convicted under Federal law are held in State or Territory prisons. The commission tentatively concludes that although a separate Federal prison system is desirable, it is financially and practically unreasonable. An alternative is for the Federal Government to fund improvements for State and territorial prisons. ACT currently has only a remand center, and all sentenced ACT prisoners are transferred to New South Wales to serve their sentences. The commission tentatively recommends the establishment of a separate ACT prison system. Suggestions are offered for planning various aspects of such a system. The commission presents principles for the management and conditions of prisons in which Federal and ACT inmates are housed. These include humane living conditions, fair grievance procedures and minimization of the detrimental effects of imprisonment. Recommendations for prison discipline are also offered, as are suggestions for inmate grievance mechanisms. The commission recommends that voting rights and court access be guaranteed for Federal and ACT inmates. Appendixes contain a profile of ACT prisoners, rights for ACT inmates, criteria for the disenfranchisement of convicted persons, and a draft provision for removing restriction on court access for inmates 32-item bibliography.