The Custodial Inspector is an independent oversight body. It was established to ensure that people in prisons and youth detention centres in Tasmania are safe and treated well.
This web page provides an overview of the Custodial Inspector’s purpose and functions.
What does the Custodial Inspector do?
The Custodial Inspector oversees custodial centres in Tasmania. This includes the prisons run by the Tasmania Prison Service, as well as Ashley Youth Detention Centre which is run by the Department for Education, Children and Young People.
The Custodial Inspector primarily focuses on:
- the care and welfare of people in custody in Tasmania’s custodial centres
- the systems of management, control and security used in the custodial centres.
Tasmania Prison Service
The prisons run by the Tasmania Prison Service are:
- Ron Barwick Minimum Security Prison
- Risdon Prison Complex (medium security, maximum security, and the Southern Remand Centre)
- Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison
- Hobart Reception Prison
- Launceston Reception Prison.
Inspections
The Custodial Inspector and its staff can inspect prisons or Ashley Youth Detention Centre at any time. When conducting an inspection, office staff also represent the Tasmanian NPM, who has delegated some of its powers to the Custodial Inspector.
After an inspection, the Custodial Inspector gives a report to the Minister in charge of prisons or Ashley Youth Detention Centre. These reports are tabled in each house of Parliament, and may include recommendations for improvement.
In addition to these inspections, the Minister responsible for prisons or Ashley Youth Detention Centre, the Parliament, or a Parliamentary committee can ask the Custodial Inspector to do an inspection and report the findings to Parliament. A report may be requested about a specific issue or general matters.
Expectations
The Custodial Inspector has published standards for humane, effective, and accountable detention. These set out the Custodial Inspector’s ‘expectations’ on conditions and treatment of people in custody, which are used by the Office to guide mandatory inspections.
The Custodial Inspector’s expectations are based on relevant international agreements and the Standard Guidelines for Corrections in Australia. They have also been designed to comply with Australia’s obligations under OPCAT, working alongside the Tasmanian NPM.
Further information about the Custodial Inspector’s expectations is available on the ‘Expectations’ web page.
The law
The Custodial Inspector is a statutory body. This means the role is created by an act of Parliament.
The Custodial Inspector Act 2016 describes the role of the Inspector.
It is the Inspector’s job to:
- inspect and review custodial centres in Tasmania
- write guidelines on conducting inspections and reviews
- report to the Minister and Parliament after inspections
- provide an annual report to Parliament
- provide advice or recommendations in reports about the safety, custody, care, wellbeing, and rehabilitation of people in custody
- provide information about education and programs to help rehabilitate people in custody.
The Custodial Inspector Act 2016 also gives the Custodial Inspector powers.
These include the powers to:
- visit and inspect any custodial centre
- obtain documents and information relating to custodial centres and people in custody
- obtain relevant information from people.