Incoming/outgoing mail and photos
Prisoners/detainees are allowed to send one letter per day, paid for by the Prison Service.
Every item of written communication by or to a prisoner/detainee is opened and read by an authorised staff member.
Some forms of communication are exempt from being opened (unless staff reasonably suspect that the letter contains an unauthorised item). That mail must be clearly identifiable as coming from, or going to one of the following:
-
Office of the Ombudsman
-
an Official Visitor
-
the Electoral Office
-
a Member of Parliament
-
Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commissioner
-
the Attorney-General
-
the Director of Corrective Services
-
the Director of Prisons
-
the Prison Service Complaints Coordinator
-
the Parole Board
-
a Legal Practitioner at his/her business address
Mail containing any unauthorised article or material, or appearing to contain any threatening or otherwise disturbing/distressing information or language will be withheld by the Prison Service Security Unit.
'Mechanical' or 'double sided' cards such as those with the ability to play a musical tune upon opening are not permitted and will also be withheld by the Security Unit.
Members of the public who do not wish to receive correspondence from a particular prisoner/detainee may request that letters written to them be intercepted and withheld by Prison Service Staff.
Photographs
Prisoners/detainees are allowed to retain ten 6" x 4" photographs in their cell. Any photographs which do not conform to this size will be held by the Security Unit, and will be returned to the prisoner/detainee, on request, upon release from prison.
Photographs which contain inappropriate content will also be held by the Security Unit.