CORRECTIONS ACT 1986 - SECT 47D When letters and parcels may be stopped and censored

CORRECTIONS ACT 1986 - SECT 47D

S. 47D(1) amended by Nos 97/2004 s. 3(2), 45/2019 s. 26(2)(a).

    (1)     This section applies if the Governor reasonably believes that any letter or parcel to be sent by a prisoner to, or sent to a prisoner by, any person who is not listed in section 47(1)(m)—

        (a)     is a threat to prison security; or

S. 47D(1)(ab) inserted by No. 12/2014 s. 6, amended by No. 45/2019 s. 26(2)(a).

        (ab)     in the case of a letter or parcel sent by a prisoner to another prisoner or a former prisoner, may be a threat to the good order, management or security of a prison or prisoner; or

S. 47D(1)(ac) inserted by No. 12/2014 s. 6, amended by No. 45/2019 s. 26(2)(a).

        (ac)     in the case of a letter or parcel sent to a prisoner by another prisoner or a former prisoner, may be a threat to the good order, management or security of a prison or prisoner; or

S. 47D(1)(ad) inserted by No. 45/2019 s. 26(2)(b).

        (ad)     in the case of a letter or parcel sent to a prisoner by a person who the Governor reasonably believes does not know the prisoner, may place that person at risk of exploitation or manipulation; or

        (b)     may be of a threatening or harassing nature; or

        (c)     may be being used to further an unlawful activity or purpose; or

S. 47D(1)(d) amended by Nos 97/2004 s. 3(3), 53/2007 s. 17, 45/2019 s. 26(2)(c).

        (d)     contains indecent, abusive, threatening or offensive written or pictorial matter, or written or pictorial matter or any other thing that may be regarded by a victim as distressing or traumatic, or an indecent, obscene or offensive article or substance; or

S. 47D(1)(e) inserted by No. 97/2004 s. 3(4).

        (e)     contravenes or would contravene section 47H.

    (2)     The Governor may—

S. 47D(2)(a) amended by No. 45/2019 s. 26(3)(a).

        (a)     if the belief concerns the whole letter or parcel, stop the letter or parcel from being sent or received by the prisoner; or

S. 47D(2)(b) amended by No. 45/2019 s. 26(3)(b).

        (b)     if the belief concerns only part of a letter, cause the relevant part of the letter to be censored; or

S. 47D(2)(c) inserted by No. 45/2019 s. 26(3)(c).

        (c)     if the belief concerns only part of a parcel, stop the relevant part of the parcel from being sent or received by the prisoner.

S. 47D(3) inserted by No. 45/2019 s. 26(4).

    (3)     The Governor may, in relation to a letter to be sent by a prisoner—

        (a)     notify the prisoner of the Governor's reasonable belief concerning the letter; and

        (b)     give the prisoner an opportunity to rewrite the letter in order that the letter is not stopped or censored under subsection (2).

S. 47DA (Heading) amended by No. 45/2019 s. 27(1).

S. 47DA inserted by No. 53/2007 s. 18, amended by No. 45/2019 s. 27(2).