ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) is an agency of the Justice and Community Safety Directorate (JACSD) of the Australian Capital Territory government in the

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is responsible for a wide range of activities and services in the area aimed at protecting the community and reducing offending behaviour. , the executive director of ACTCS is Jon Peach.

Operations

The ACTCS operates the following: * Community Corrections * Custodial Operations * Offender Services and Corrections Programs * Sentence Administration Section * The Sentence Administration Board

Community Corrections

Community Corrections consists of: * Probation and Parole Unit * Prisoner Employment Unit ** New Employment Opportunities (NEO) Program, including Transitional Release ** Community Service Work Unit * Corrections Programs Unit * Offender Services

Probation and Parole Unit

The Probation and Parole Unit provides advice to

Courts A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance ...

and releasing authorities on the background and attitudes of offenders on Community Based Orders (e.g.

bail Bail is a set of pre-trial restrictions that are imposed on a suspect to ensure that they will not hamper the judicial process. Bail is the conditional release of a defendant with the promise to appear in court when required. In some countries ...

supervision,

probation Probation in criminal law is a period of supervision over an offender, ordered by the court often in lieu of incarceration. In some jurisdictions, the term ''probation'' applies only to community sentences (alternatives to incarceration), such ...

, and

parole Parole (also known as provisional release or supervised release) is a form of early release of a prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by certain behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated parole officers, or ...

) and to refer offenders to appropriate community based or residential services to assist with addressing a variety of issues (e.g.

drug A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via insuffla ...

and

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

abuse, grief and loss issues, self-esteem and relationship issues). The Unit aims to reduce offending by the use of empirically sound risk assessment tools and a brokerage case management model, which targets criminogenic needs.

Corrections Programs Unit

The Corrections Program Unit was established in 2001 as the Rehabilitation Programs Unit. The Unit incorporates existing programs and services that focus on targeted intervention and supervision of offenders. The services of the Unit are consistent with a focus on specific programs for offenders that address identified risks and criminogenic needs.

Custodial Operations

Custodial Operations consists of the following: *

Alexander Maconochie Centre The Alexander Maconochie Centre is an Australian prison, prison in the Australian Capital Territory, which detains maximum security, minimum security and Remand (detention), remand prisoner, inmates, both male and female. It is located in Hume, ...

* Court Transport Unit It also formerly consisted of the

Belconnen Remand Centre Belconnen Remand Centre, or BRC, was an Australian remand custody facility located in Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The centre opened in 1976 and closed in 2009. At times, it held a small number of illegal immigrants. When ...

and

Symonston Temporary Remand Centre Symonston (Postcodes in Australia, postcode: 2609) is a primarily industrial and agricultural suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Symonston is named after Sir Josiah Symon a Legislator, Federalist and one of the Founder ...

. The Belconnen Remand Centre opened in 1976 and closed in 2009. Custodial Operations administrates the Remand Centres Act 1976 (RCA) which establishes remand centres in the ACT. The Superintendent is responsible for directing and controlling the operations of the ACT adult custodial facilities. The facilities main objective is to carry out the mandate of the court and to ensure the provision of safe care and secure accommodation to those in custody in a controlled environment. The facilities have a responsibility to address a duty of care for each individual, accommodating both genders and a variety of cultures. Under section 6A of the RCA an Official Visitor is appointed. The duties of this officer involve visiting and inspecting the facilities at least once each week, and inquiring into complaints by detainees.

Periodic Detention Centre

Periodic detention provides an effective alternative sentencing option for ACT offenders. Currently this sentencing option is served on weekends, starting on Friday 7.00 pm and ending on Sunday 4.30 pm. Detainees make a positive contribution to the community while serving their period of detention by performing unpaid community work. To accommodate the increased number of periodic detainees, ACT Corrective Services is currently investigating the possibility of extending periodic detention to mid-week.

Court Transport Unit

The Court Transport Unit is responsible for transporting prisoners between interstate correctional centres and the ACT, transporting prisoners and remandees (including juveniles) within the ACT, and the provision of safe and secure custody of prisoners and remandees in ACT Courts.

References

External links

ACT Corrective Services website
{{Government directorates of the Australian Capital Territory Government agencies of the Australian Capital Territory Penal system in Australia Prison and correctional agencies