South Australian Consolidated Acts

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ACT 1982 - SECT 20

20—Correctional institutions must be inspected on regular basis

        (1)         The Minister must cause correctional institutions to be inspected on a regular basis by an inspector for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this Act relating to the treatment of prisoners are being complied with.

        (2)         The Governor may, on the recommendation of the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, appoint a suitable person to be an inspector for the purposes of this section.

        (3)         An inspector cannot be directed to inspect a correctional institution in respect of which the inspector constitutes a Visiting Tribunal.

        (4)         For the purposes of, or in the course of, carrying out an inspection, an inspector may—

            (a)         enter and inspect any part of the correctional institution; and

            (b)         question any person within the institution; and

            (c)         inquire into the treatment of the prisoners, or of a particular prisoner; and

            (d)         receive and investigate any complaint of a prisoner.

        (5)         An inspector may, in investigating a complaint, be assisted by any other person authorised by the Attorney-General for the purpose.

        (6)         An inspector must, as soon as reasonably practicable after carrying out an inspection pursuant to this section, or at such other intervals as the Minister may direct, furnish the Minister with a written report on the inspection, including findings in relation to any complaint investigated by the inspector in the course of the inspection.

        (7)         An inspector may, in a report furnished pursuant to this section, make such recommendations on any matter arising out of the report as he or she thinks fit.