Correctional Centres to return to Stage 2

All Queensland correctional centres will return to Stage 2 operations from Monday 28 February.

This means that:

• Both personal and professional (including legal) visits to correctional centres will resume from Monday with bookings for visits now available.
• The wearing of masks by visitors to any correctional centre in Queensland remains a mandatory requirement at this time.
• All visitors to any correctional centre must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status each time they visit, which can be in written or electronic form (including the Check in App).
• Visits will not be permitted for those who have been overseas in the last 14 days, who have had contact with a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or those showing symptoms of cold/flu/respiratory illness or a greater than 38 degree temperature.

Quarantine of prisoners

• Notably, the QCS COVID-19 Policy for Managing Prisoner Receptions, Transfers, Discharges and Releases has been updated to reflect that the initial quarantining period by prisoners received into a correctional centre including from a watchhouse or court, is now an initial seven-day period (reduced from the previous 14-day requirement), in a single cell insofar as is practicable and subject to QLD Health advice.
• Any requirement to re-start or extend the quarantine period will be on the basis of Queensland Health advice (including in the instance of a prisoner leaving the centre to attend court who then returns to the centre).
• In the initial quarantine period, to the greatest extent possible prisoners must retain access to facilitated phone calls including unmonitored calls with legal representatives.

Court attendance

• Production of prisoners for court attendance in Stage 2 continues where the court requires the in person appearance.
• The movement of prisoners within and external to the centre who are subject to isolation or quarantining requirements (either as a new reception or as a COVID-19 positive case), are minimised to those that are operational necessity and will be required to be determined on an individual basis from Queensland Health assessment and advice.
• This assessment will apply to any required movements of isolating and/or COVID-19 positive prisoners within the centre to video conferencing suites, or external movement from the centre for court attendance. 

Community Corrections – at Stage 2

As at Monday 21 February 2022, all Community Corrections locations in Queensland returned to Stage 2. Relevany details include:

Service delivery

• The use of face-to-face reporting with supervised individuals resumes in conjunction with alternate methods of contact (including VC and phone). Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or subject to quarantine as a positive case/close contact will be supervised via non-personal contact methods.
• Internally delivered programs and interventions to supervised individuals resume with masks and physical distancing.
• Community service work continues, limited only by health directions or advice.
• In the event of any necessary short term closures of Community Corrections offices due to localised COVID-19 related business disruption, local stakeholders will be promptly informed.

Court advisory services

Community Corrections staff are available for necessary court advisory services and contravention proceedings as required by the court in line with any active COVID-related court directives.

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