Queensland Corrective Services has increased its oversight of the management of Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre (AGCC), with the introduction of a third full-time contract monitor commencing today.
Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan said that the addition of a third contract monitor would help ensure compliance to the contract conditions for running the prison.
“Contract monitors play an important role in ensuring the integrity of the contract arrangements within privately run prisons,” Minister Ryan said.
“Obviously operating a prison is a highly complex and dynamic undertaking, and having monitors on site full time allows QCS to ensure the integrity of the contract process.
“Historically there has only been one QCS monitor assigned to AGCC, with a second introduced about six months ago.
“This additional monitor will further strengthen the oversight at AGCC.
“Any decision the government makes is with a focus on the safety of Custodial Officers.
“The AGCC is bound by contractual obligations, as well as adherence to legislative process and QCS policy. Monitors have unfettered access to all areas of the centre and continually test the integrity and fullness of these processes.” Minister Ryan said
Contract monitors undertake a range of activities, including:
- Incident response observation – respond and observe centre incident management and ensure reporting obligations are met
- Daily centre compliance checks – monitors undertake adhoc, spot checks throughout the centre to ensure integrity of process and compliance
- Targeted reviews based on centre observation and patterns revealed through journaled activity or in response to a significant event within the centre. The results of these reviews are provided in an evidence-based report to the centre operator for action and response.
- Integrity and endurance checks on items that were subject of previous remedy through the monitoring process.
