Recommendation 138

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW.

Recommendation

That police instructions should require the adequate recording, in relevant journals, of observations and information regarding complaints, requests or behaviour relating to mental or physical health, medical attention offered and/or provided to detainees and any other matters relating to the well being of detainees. Instructions should also require the recording of all cell checks conducted.

Context

At the commencement of Chapter 24.1 the Royal Commission report stated that issues dealing with Police and prison custody deaths would be dealt with separately in different chapters as the issues were quire distinct. Since the time of the RCIADIC report, CSNSW has taken operational responsibility for some police/court cells. The Royal Commission identified that in many of the deaths in custody there was a lack of care in making detailed entries in appropriate station records. Recommendation 138 is directed at implementing protocols requiring police to keep accurate records for persons in custody and recording cell checks.

Detail of implementation

COPP Section 1.1 Reception procedures

Clearly outlines the procedures for accepting an offender is received into CSNSW custody.

When any person is received into custody the New Inmate Lodgement & Special Instruction Sheet is completed, which includes the Inmate Identification and Observation (IIO). This document covers a range of questions including: 

• Status and offence particulars 

• Immediate temporary management or placement issues 

• Immediate medical concerns 

• Personal description  

• Emergency contact and next of kin 

• Dependents 

• General alerts 

• Cultural background  

• Current wellbeing 

• Criminal history 

• Current incarceration 

• Privacy statement  

• Health history 

• Officer visual assessment for self-harm

COPP 2.1 Alerts 

Alerts are created to assist staff with the management of inmates in CSNSW custody. Alerts in OIMS can be made for various reasons, such as after a particular incident, as a result of an inmate’s behaviours or because of their mental health. 

COPP 3.7 Management of inmates at risk of self-harm or suicide

Any staff member who determines that an inmate may be at risk of suicide or self-harm must immediately notify the Officer in Charge (OIC).

This notification is mandatory. Once the OIC is notified, they must assess the risk and develop an Immediate Support Plan (ISP) appropriate to the level of risk, consistent with the principle of least restrictive care. The OIC must also record the mandatory notification and details of the ISP in the Offender Integrated Management System (OIMS), including reporting the incident via the Incident Reporting Module (IRM) and recording an alert and case note.

Police/Court Cells staff also utilise:

• Officers Journals 

• Daily logs in A, B & C Watch

• Daily Security Reporting 

CSNSW receives the following information initially with the inmate:

• Custody Management Record (CMR) from NSW Police Force (NSWPF)

• Transfer note from NSWPF

• Verbal handover of the inmate from NSWPF to CSNSW, including unusual behaviour, history of self-harm, etc. 

• CSNSW will ask the inmate for information whilst undertaking a search and throughout the lodgement process.

• Sometimes family contact CSNSW directly to raise concerns for welfare of inmates. 

Recording of all cell checks conducted are completed in the above-mentioned forms and journals. COPP 16.14 Daily Security Reporting (DSR) policy explains that the DSR system is one of many strategies developed to assist CSNSW to achieve the effective management of correctional centres and court escort security unit (CESU) facilities. The correctional officer position identified as the ‘checking officer’ in the DSR Local Operating Procedure (LOP) must conduct checks of security elements specified in the Daily Security Reporting system, as reflected in the DSR LOPs and any other local instructions issued for this purpose. The checking officer must record the results of the security check in the applicable local journal. The authorised DSR compliant journals are: 

• Security Compliance Journal (SCJ)

• Inmate accommodation journal 

• Officer in Charge (OIC) Journal C/B Watch

• OIC Gate Journal

• Visits Journal

• Clinic Journal 

• Reception/Intake Journal

The Morseman tool is also used to validate checks. The Morseman tool is a wand that officers carry that makes physical contact with contact buttons located at specific points around the cell complex and is linked back to software which validates checks on a designated PC. The Morseman tool is used to conduct external checks at both the beginning and the end of each shift. Internal checks are conducted intermittent checks throughout the shift, i.e.. When a new inmate is brought in, when officers are patrolling, etc.

Staff are required to:

• Ensure that during the checks of commons areas and cells areas that the Morseman tool makes physical contact with contact buttons located at specific points around the cell complex.

• Respond to push button alarms, radio calls, staff/inmate assaults, non-compliant inmates.

• Enter an area and randomly search inmates/cells.  

General observations, if related to an individual’s behaviour, risk or threat are considered notable would be recorded in OIMS as a case note. 

CESU implemented a touchscreen system an inmate welfare monitoring program at most 24 hour sites.  While not integrated with CSNSW systems it allows officers to:

• Monitor cells from fixed workstation and touch screens.

• Retain date and time by the officers recorded in the system 

• If an inmate at risk has had observation time alert entered, an alarm activates to remind staff, upon attending another staff member can capture the camera image of their attendance and retain with records and notes.

• Ability to flag if a cell is occupied or vacant

• Ability to facilitate the inmate lodgement process electronically and forward to relevant areas via email.  This prevents lodgement loss and readable records.

• Observation records can be printed/emailed to follow an individual to a correctional centre 

CESU have engaged IDS and I&A to consider viability and cost to a needed upgrade of the system and address cyber security issues raised post installation.  The Touchscreen program at Amber and Surry Hills are outdated and no longer supported. There is no touchscreen at Queanbeyan. The touchscreen program by NTS is at all other CESU 24hr sites.

Evidence 

• COPP 1.1 Reception Procedures (PDF, 3.0 MB)

• COPP 2.1 Alerts (PDF, 1.1 MB)

• COPP 3.7 Management of inmates at risk of self-harm or suicide (PDF, 2.3 MB)

• COPP 16.14 Daily Security Reporting (PDF, 254.1 KB)