21 January 2025
The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) has commenced the third Healthy Prison Review of the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC).
OICS undertakes these reviews applying our ACT Standards for Adult Detention (last updated 2024). These Standards are based on the elements of a healthy prison, first articulated by the World Health Organisation and are set out under 4 pillars:
- Safety: detained people, particularly the most vulnerable, are held safely and staff and visitors feel and are safe;
- Respect: all people are treated with respect for their human dignity;
- Purposeful activity: detained people engage in activity that is likely to benefit them;
- Rehabilitation and preparation for release: detained people are supported to connect with their family and the community; supported to rehabilitate; and prepared for their return to the community.
OICS is required to complete the Review by December 2025 at the latest.
This review will consider several ‘spotlight focus areas’ for further in-depth consideration:
- Leadership and Culture (across several pillars)
- Purposeful Activity (Pillar 3)
- Rehabilitation and preparation for Release (Pillar 4)
- Drugs and harm minimisation (across several pillars)
- Culturally appropriate care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (across several pillars)
- Implementation of previous OICS and coronial recommendations
Invitation for submissions
OICS invites input in writing or any other format (eg audio, video message etc) from any entities, groups or individuals with recent knowledge or experience of the AMC.
Information from your submission may be drawn upon, quoted or referred to in the public report and other resources produced by OICS in connection with the Review, however your submission will not be published and will be dealt with confidentially, unless OICS is required by law to release it. You can find more information about making a submission on our website www.ics.act.gov
This process is in addition to OICS engagement with detained people and staff via surveys, meetings and discussions.
Submissions can be emailed to ics@act.gov.au or you can contact us on 1800 93 20 10 to discuss further.
Closing date for submissions is 28 February 2025.