Adult Custodial Standards and Rules
The Adult Custodial Rules provides the public with access to Adult Custodial:
- Prison Standards
- Operational Instructions
- Policy Directives
- Prison Orders
- Rules.
- Commissioner's Operating Policies and Procedures
Standards are an integral component of the Department’s new Operating Standards and Procedures Framework. Standards are being introduced to promote service delivery improvement within an Individual Offender Management approach. The introduction of Standards demonstrates the Department's progress towards the achievement of being a world class corrective services organisation.
The Rules, Directives, Appendices and Instructions together form the majority of the overall system of prisons and prisoner management that is derived from the Prisons Act 1981 and other legislation.
The rules are made by the head of the Department, the Commissioner, with approval from the Minister and largely cover prisoner and prison officer conduct.
The rules deal with matters such as classification/placement of prisoners and visits, some details of which are required to be enshrined in rules.
On the other hand, the policy directives, which are issued by the head of the Department and do not require Ministerial approval, cover procedural and administrative matters and welfare issues. Areas covered by the policy directives include search procedures, attendance at funerals, access to information and dietary and nutritional requirements. Operational Instructions are similarly limited to procedural matters.
Each of the above are required to be reviewed on an annual basis and this review is coordinated by the Operational Services division.
Prison Orders
Prison Orders are policy instruments to effect changes to existing custodial operational instruments and support the suite of Adult Custodial Rules, Policy Directives and Prison Procedures. Prison Orders will be phased out as the implementation of the Custodial Operational Policies and Procedures are implemented from now until September 2021.
If you require one of the below Prison Orders, please email Operational Policy at OP@justice.wa.gov.au.
| Number | Title |
| 04/2016 | Restricted visits with grandchildren for child sex offenders |
| 02/2016 | Privileged mail |
| 05/2017 | Early discharge from prison |
| 04/2017 | Transition of Court Security and Custodial Services |
| 02/2017 | Common Telephone Numbers |
| 03/2018 | Telephone calls to legal practitioners |
| 02/2018 | Visitor Ban Procedures (local and state-wide) |
| 06/2019 | Compassionate Leave |
| 05/2019 | Absence to further the interests of justice |
| 04/2019 | Work camps eligibility |
| 03/2019 | Hospital Orders |
| 01/2019 | Additional privileged mail options |
| 06/2020 | E-Visits and Video link |
Contact details
Operational Policy Directorate
Level 23 David Malcolm Justice Centre
28 Barrack Street
PERTH WA 6000
Email: op@justice.wa.gov.au
Page last updated: 28-Jan-2021