47Telephone calls

47 Telephone calls (1) The director-general must ensure that each correctional centre has telephone facilities for detainees to make and receive telephone calls. (2) A detainee may make at least— (a) 1 telephone call on admission to a correctional centre; and (b) 1 telephone call each week to a family member. Note Family member is defined in the dictionary. (3) A detainee may also make and receive further telephone calls for necessary contact with a family member, friend or someone else. (4) A detainee who makes a telephone call mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) must pay for the call if the director-general believes, on reasonable grounds, that is appropriate. if the detainee can afford to pay for the call (5) For chapter 10 (Discipline), subsections (2) and (3) are taken to provide entitlements for each detainee in relation to telephone calls. (6) However, the director-general may give directions denying or limiting the use of a telephone by a detainee for a call mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) if the director-general suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the call may— Mr F was imprisoned for intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm against his former wife. He had been convicted previously of family violence offences. He believes he has a right to assault his former wife and advocates the matter is private. Mr F believes that organisations that support victims of family violence are a social evil. He begins to use telephone calls to his brother to organise him into inciting violence against organisations advocating women’s rights. Following complaints from the organisations, the director-general denies phone calls between Mr F and his brother. (7) Also, subsections (2) and (3) are subject to— (a) section 103 (Monitoring telephone calls etc); and (b) any operating procedure mentioned in subsection (8). (8) An operating procedure may include provision regulating the following in relation to detainees’ telephone calls: (a) the times for making or receiving calls; (b) the frequency and length of calls; (c) arrangements for payment for the cost of calls made. 48 Mail (1) The director-general must ensure, as far as practicable, that detainees can send and receive as much mail as they wish. (2) However, a detainee may send mail to, and receive mail from, a person only if the person is nominated by the detainee by written notice given to the director-general. (3) A detainee who sends mail must pay for the cost of any writing and other material, and postage, for the mail if the director-general believes, on reasonable grounds, that is appropriate. if the detainee can afford to pay for the material and postage (4) For chapter 10 (Discipline), subsection (2) is taken to provide an entitlement for each detainee in relation to mail. (5) However, the director-general may give directions denying or limiting the sending or receiving of an item of mail by a detainee if the director-general suspects, on reasonable grounds, that it may— AW was convicted of murdering her parents with a view to obtaining an inheritance. The W family are well known in the community and family members had actively campaigned for a higher sentence for AW. AW began writing inflammatory letters to her relatives and friends of her parents. Having received complaints about the letters from family members, the director-general denies AW from sending further letters to family members who had complained about the letters. (6) Also, subsections (1) and (2) are subject to— (a) section 104 (Monitoring ordinary mail); and (b) section 105 (Monitoring protected mail); and (c) any operating procedure mentioned in subsection (7). (7) An operating procedure may include provision regulating the following in relation to detainees’ mail: (a) the way mail is sent or received; (b) the provision of writing and other material for sending mail; (c) arrangements for payment for the cost of the material and postage.