Queensland Corrective Services recommendations

The youth detention review made 83 recommendations. These were sorted into work programs for implementation.

One of the work programs contains recommendations made for Queensland Corrective Services.

Recommendations

Recommendation 40 (status: completed)

The Review recommends that the current policy should be amended to ensure that it is consistent with, and reflects, applicable legislation. (14.R1)

Queensland Corrective Services reviewed all custodial operational practice directives in 2017.

As part of the review, the facility security custodial operation practice directive was amended to ensure the use of force requirements aligned with section 143 of the Corrective Services Act 2006.

Recommendation 41 (status: completed)

The Review recommends that, in considering whether or not to use restraints, regard should be had to whether there was any other way to stop the conduct. (14.R2)

Queensland Corrective Services has reviewed its control and changed the control and restraint training, and associated manual, to relfect the recommendations and findings of the youth detention review.

The current training and manual reflect that a custodial correctional officer must use all methods of tactical communication and situational response, and consider the most appropriate option for a safe and effective outcome.

Recommendation 42 (status: completed)

The Review recommends that corrective services officers should be counselled and re-trained on the specific situations in which it is appropriate to use force, in particular restraints, under the Corrective Services Act 2006.

• Such training to include de-escalation techniques and identification of alternative strategies to be employed before utilising physical restraint of a prisoner, for a discipline purpose, as a last resort.
• Such training to include appropriate documentation and record keeping to ensure that managers are kept informed of all incidents of physical restraint. (14.R3)

Queensland Corrective Services has reviewed and changed the control and restraint training, and associated manua, to reflect the recommendations and findings of the Youth Detention Review.

Control and restraint accreditation has been changed from every 3 years to every 12 months. De-escalation techniques represent a core part of this training.

To ensure managers are kept informed of all incidents of physical restraint, every correctional officer directly involved in an incident where force has been used must now provide a written report before going off duty.

Recommendation 43 (status: completed)

The Queensland Government write to Young Person 'A1' and apologise for the unlawful segregation. (14.R4)

On 22 September 2017, the Acting Commissioner, Queensland Corrective Services wrote to young person 'A1' and formally apologised for the unlawful segregation.