10Official visitors

### 10 Official visitors > > (1)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (1) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpa@EN) The Minister may appoint persons as official visitors in accordance with this section. > > > (1A)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpb@EN) A person appointed as an official visitor is to be – > > > > > > (a) appointed for a term, not exceeding 3 years, specified in his or her instrument of appointment; and > > > > > > > (b) appointed on terms and conditions specified in his or her instrument of appointment; and > > > > > > > (c) paid such remuneration and allowances as the Minister may determine. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (2) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpc@EN) A person may be appointed as an official visitor to all prisons in the State. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (3) substituted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpd@EN) The Minister may appoint a Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme. > > > (3A)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (3A) inserted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpd@EN) The Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme is to ensure that each prison is visited at least once a month by an official visitor and, for that purpose, may establish a system for the coordination of visits to prisons by official visitors. > > > (4)  An official visitor is to – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (4) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpe@EN) visit, either alone or with another visitor, any prison once a month or at any other time; and > > > > > > > (b) inquire into the treatment, behaviour and conditions of the prisoners and detainees in that prison; and > > > > > > > (c) receive and investigate any complaint of a prisoner or detainee. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (5) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpf@EN) While an official visitor is visiting a prison, the official visitor is not to directly interfere with, or give instructions with regard to, the management or disciplining of a correctional officer, a prisoner or detainee or a State Service corrections employee. > > > (6)  An official visitor may report to the Director or Minister on – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (6) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpg@EN) the management or disciplining of a prisoner or detainee, or the conduct of correctional officers or State Service corrections employees, at a prison visited by the official visitor; or > > > > > > > (b) any matter relating to the treatment or condition of prisoners or detainees at that prison; or > > > > > > > (c) the state of the prison. > > > (7)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (7) substituted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hph@EN) The Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme, as soon as practicable after 31 December in each year, is to give the Minister a report – > > > > > > (a) on the inquiries or investigations made under [subsection (4)](#GS10@Gs4@EN) ; and > > > > > > > (b) on the visits to prisons by official visitors; and > > > > > > > (c) on the activities of official visitors at prisons – > > > > in that year. > > > (7A)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (7A) inserted by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hph@EN) The Minister may, at any time, request the Coordinator of the Official Visitors Scheme to give the Minister a report – > > > > > > (a) on the inquiries or investigations made under [subsection (4)](#GS10@Gs4@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) on the visits to prisons by official visitors; or > > > > > > > (c) on the activities of official visitors at prisons; or > > > > > > > (d) on any other matter relating to official visits that the Minister requires. > > > (8)  [*\[Section 10 Subsection (8) amended by No. 37 of 2013, s. 7, Applied:01 May 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-05-01/act-2013-037#GS7@Hpi@EN) A correctional officer and a State Service corrections employee is to give full assistance and cooperation to an official visitor.