NUMINBAH CORRECTIONAL CENTRE
Offender Induction Handbook
GENERAL MANAGER’S MESSAGE
The information that follows has been prepared to assist you to familiarise yourself with the legislation, rules, procedures, opportunities and activities that apply to and are in operation at the Numinbah Correctional Centre. It also gives you some general information about the correctional system. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to ask any Custodial Officer or a member of staff. You can access relevant legislation through the Education Officer or the Education Computers.
Whilst in custody you are held responsible for your own conduct. Your conduct will be important when it comes to deciding whether or not you receive any privileges as an offender. Along with your behaviour your willingness and commitment to work, education, rehabilitation, recreation and self-development programs will also be considered when applying for changes to accommodation, progression through the system, community-based programs/release. Deliberate or continual breaking of rules and regulations can carry penalties ranging from loss of privileges to extra terms of imprisonment.
Queensland Corrective Services and Numinbah Correctional Centre, have a very strong focus on providing you skills that will be valuable upon release. I encourage you to take full advantage of the vocational, educational, therapeutic and transitional programs offered at the Centre and to use this as an opportunity for self-development and pro-social life improvement.
Family and spiritual visits, social programs, recreational and sporting activities are also available.
The principle value emphasised in the management and rehabilitation of offenders at Numinbah Correctional Centre is recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings and their potential for improvement. Our approach to offender management will focus on self-directed rehabilitation in an Open Custody and educational environment.
If you are ready to assume a responsible lifestyle, in preparation for your discharge or community release, you will find your time spent at Numinbah Correctional Centre rewarding.
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
NUMINBAH CORRECTIONAL CENTRE
Our Vision
· Leaders in Corrections: Partners in criminal and social justice
Our Purpose
· In partnership with other key criminal justice agencies, we are committed to the critical role of ‘Community safety and crime prevention through the humane containment, supervision and rehabilitation of offenders’.
Our motto
· Protecting the community
Our Values
· Integrity – We act ethically, honestly, impartially and in the best interests of the community.
· Accountability – We are publicly accountable for our actions.
· Working together – We work in collaboration with our colleagues, stakeholders and the community.
· Learning – We value creativity, innovation, flexibility and continual improvement in the pursuit of excellence.
· Diversity – We treat all people with respect and value differences
ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES
Activities:
There is an oval for running, walking, cricket, touch football and softball etc. at this Centre.
The oval is situated beside the tennis courts and times of usage are displayed on the Notice Board outside the kitchen.
Regular Activities at this Centre include:
Arts & Craft - Lead lighting, Pottery, Leatherwork, Art.
Sports - Tennis, Football (Touch), Darts,
Volley Ball, Table Tennis, Gymnasium,
Cricket Softball, Pool,
Board Games.
DVD Movies: There are movies provided each day and these are shown at various times throughout the week. A certain number of educational DVD/Videos are also shown.
CANTEEN/BUY-UP
Do I get a “buy-up” when I arrive?
· Yes. You are able to purchase a “reception pack” which includes tobacco, toiletries and phone credits to a total value of $20.
· The cost of the “reception pack” will be deducted from your Trust Account.
How does the weekly “buy-up” work?
· Once you have money in your Trust Account you can submit a “Canteen buy-up form which must be placed in the “Red Mailbox” by Wednesday morning 8.00 am. This is the same for “Arts and Crafts buy-up” form (no forms will be accepted after this time).
· No items will be exchanged or refunded.
· Your “Canteen buy-up” will be issued to your at 1.00 pm on Friday afternoon. “Arts and Craft buy-up” will be issued to you on Monday morning at 11.30am.
· Magazines and greeting cards may be ordered separately by submitting a “Newsagent buy-up” from on Wednesday before 8.00 am and will be issued to you at 1.00 pm on Friday.
How much can I spend?
· Provided you have sufficient funds in your Trust Account the limit is $110.00 per “buy-up”. Any items over this amount will not be processed.
How can I get an item that is not stocked by the Canteen?
· Complete an STP form and put in the “red mailbox” by 8.00 am on the first Friday of each month and the item/s will be issued to you the following Friday.
· The cost of the items will be frozen before the purchases are made.
· Food and tobacco items are not purchased on STP buy-ups.
· Health supplements will not be purchased unless prior approval has been obtained by the Medical Officer and the Assistant General Manager.
· STP Purchases will be delivered to the property store and if necessary will be entered on to your property record.
· All electronic items you purchase or you bring into the centre are required by law to be electronically tested and tagged before they are issued to you. This cost is to be met by you at $3.00 per item.
Carrying on a Business
Section 28 Corrective Service Act 2006
Sentenced offenders may not carry on a business whilst accommodated in a corrective services facility. An offender has 21 days after being sentenced to transfer responsibility for the business to another person.
CASE MANAGEMENT
What is Probation and Parole?
Probation and Parole is the new term for Community Corrections. Whereas Queensland Corrective Services used to allocate Community Corrections Officers to each centre, we now have the Offender Management Team receiving your parole applications and processing them. This means that you will still submit your parole applications in a similar way to how you used to, but you will now have it assessed and attend a panel with the Offender Management Team. This panel will include a representative from the Probation and Parole services, and you can use this opportunity to ask them for any specialist information. The panel however, not the probation and parole officer, will make an assessment and recommendation that will be forwarded to the parole board.
At any time that you may require assistance regarding probation and parole (i.e. accommodation enquiries, responses to Board correspondence, eligibility criteria and forwarding correspondence to the Board) you should first commence enquiries with your case/unit officer, and if needing further assistance, submit a request form to the Sentence Management or the Counsellor. Importantly, other than at your parole application panel conference, you will not have contact with members of the probation and parole team, and therefore, need to have clear understandings of what you require to progress with your applications.
What does a Case Officer do?
Your Case Officer is here to assist you through your sentence.
He or she will ensure that you are following your Offender Management Plan and assist you with any problems you have with your plan.
All requests that you have should be discussed with your Case Officer before you see any other staff member (except health issues which you can discuss directly with the nursing staff).
He or she will refer you to another staff member if they are unable to find an answer/solution for you.
How will I know who my Case Officer is?
If you are not sure, ask a Custodial Officer or the Correctional Supervisor via the Duty Office.
So who do I see if I have a problem?
Always speak to your case officer first; if they cannot help they will contact the relevant staff member. If you are not given the assistance you require, it is recommended that the following process is used:
Always go to the next step before escalating. Case management is about solving problems at a local level.
There is documentation located around the centre which explains how you can contact the Official Visitor and/or the Ombudsman. Both the Official Visitor and the Ombudsman visit the centre on a regular basis throughout the year.
If your problem or concern is related to a sentence management decision such as your classification review or your application for release please refer to the section of this book about the Offender Management Team. This will provide you with more specific information about how these types of matters should be resolved.
You may submit grievances to the Assistant General Manager via the Complaints Management process. You should first go through the above stages, but you may write to the Assistant General Manager at any time.
CENTRE STRUCTURE
So what’s different about Numinbah Correction Centre?
· We are a Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) correctional centre.
· We comply with all QCS legislation and procedures. This means we don’t tolerate any inappropriate behaviour and we enforce breach of discipline legislation.
· You have access to legal services and Complaints Management processes
· You are not secured in your cells as part of the Open Custody management of the Centre.
Numinbah Correctional Centre Overview
· Numinbah is a 104 bed Open Custody Farm facility for mainstream offenders.
· Stand overs and intimidation won’t be tolerated and strategies are in place to deal with this behaviour.
· There are none of the usual sort of Officer Stations where staff are physically separated from offenders.
· There is an open campus style environment where you can move freely around the centre between curfew timeframes
What does it look like?
· Numinbah is divided into three accommodation areas - Huts, Demountables and the Houses
· The accommodation is an open style layout with single accommodation rooms
· There’s a sports oval, gymnasium and various activity rooms (hobbies, music and painting)
What ’s better about Numinbah?
· You’re not locked in rooms or accommodation blocks and you are free to move about the authorised areas of the Centre between curfew timeframes.
· You have a key to your room.
· More privileges including additional hobbies, tennis court and fewer restrictions on movement.
· The Centre is set in a relaxed rural environment.
Change of appearance
Offenders need to make application in writing to the General Manager to alter their appearance.
Offenders who change their appearance by shaving heads or beards or growing beards, which changes their appearance without approval may be disciplined. A cost for a new photograph and identification card may also be incurred.
CHAPLAINCY SERVICES
The Chaplains provide for the spiritual needs of offenders. For this reason, the Chaplains come to you as people, willing to assist you in any way they can, hopefully they can share your worry with you, and give you support, guidance or practical help.
The Chaplains who visit Numinbah at 3.00pm to 8.00pm daily are:
Mon Correctional Centre Chaplaincy Rodney Lum / Trevor Salisbury
Tue Prison Fellowship Alan Bailey
Wed Roman Catholic Sister Elizabeth / Father Leo Burke
Thu Salvation Army Les Guy
Fri Uniting Church John Tully
There is an interdenominational service every Sunday at 6.00pm in the chapel.
CIVILIAN CLOTHING
Court clothes, clothing for funerals, discharge and resettlement Leave of Absence will be retained, issued and returned to the store.
The following items and quantity of offender owned civilian clothing are permitted:
· UNDERWEAR
o Socks - reasonable quantity
o Jocks - reasonable quantity
o Singlets - reasonable quantity
o Headwear - one (1) item only
o Footwear - two (2) pair
CLINICAL CARE
There is a Registered Nurse on duty Monday to Sunday between the hours of 7.00am-5.00pm. The Clinic is situated on the southern end of the Administration Building.
To access the Nurse, you must place your name on the Nurses list at sick parade. The list is available from the Duty Officers.
Warning - The taking of non-prescribed medication or illicit substances can have serious and/or possibly fatal consequences.
Caution - Don't touch blood spills! Blood spill kits are available from the Duty Office for the purpose of removing blood spills.
Dentist:
Dental Services are on a ‘as needs’ basis. Offenders must submit a request in writing to the Duty Nurse who will arrange for the treatment to take place. Dental treatment for men is carried out at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and will require transfer on a temporary basis.
Doctor's Parade:
A Doctor visits this Centre each Wednesday between 7.30am and 11.30am. If you wish to see the Doctor, you must list your name with the Nurse through the Duty Officer.
Medication:
Medications are dispensed by the Duty Nurse at 7.30am and 4.15pm. It is your responsibility to collect your medication on time. Offenders are to provide their ID card prior to receiving medication. NO ID - NO MEDICATION.
Optometrist:
Apply through Registered Nurse for an appointment. Men will be taken to Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre at Wacol.
BLOOD AWARE
AIDS & HIV
(HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens and eventually destroys the immune system, which is the body’s defence against disease. People who have the virus are said to be HIV positive, and many not have any symptoms for years.
How do I get HIV?
HIV is transmitted when blood, semen or vaginal fluid from an infected person gets into the body of an uninfected person. This can happen through unsafe sex or sharing needles containing contaminated blood.
You cannot get infected with HIV through:
· Kissing
· Hugging
· Swimming pools
· Sharing crockery and cutlery
· Insects including mosquitoes
· Toilet seats
· Shaking hands or any normal social contact.
How can you tell if someone is infected with HIV?
You can’t tell if someone has HIV by the way they look. The only way to tell is to have a blood test.
Is there a cure?
There is no current cure for HIV or AIDS, and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. The only way to prevent infection is to practice safe sex and never share needles if you inject drugs.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver.
How do I get Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a blood born virus passed on by blood to blood contact. Hepatitis C may be transmitted through:
· Sharing needles
· Razor blades
· Non-Sterile tattooing or skin piercing
· Blood spills on broken skin.
How do I know if I have Hepatitis C?
The only way to tell if someone has Hepatitis C is to have an antibody test at a medical clinic. There is a successful treatment for Hepatitis C, but you need to see your doctor for more information. Hepatitis C cannot be caught kissing or any casual contact with another person, unless there is a blood contact.