Guide for Families and Friends of Inmates (NSW)

When a family member or friend is sentenced and taken into custody, it can be difficult for family and friends to stay in contact with them. This article contains relevant information for families and friends of persons who have been taken into custody.

1 – Locating an Inmate:

When a person is sentenced to imprisonment and taken into custody they will be assigned a ‘Master Index Number’ known as a ‘MIN’. The MIN is the main reference number used by custodial centres to identify an inmate. If the person has previously spent time in custody, they will be assigned the same MIN as their last time in custody. 

If you do not know the person’s MIN, you can contact the Corrective Services NSW Inmate Location Line on 02 8346 1000. When requesting to be given a person’s MIN, you will need to confirm your identity, the inmate’s name and date of birth. 

2 – Visiting an Inmate:

VIN (Visitor Index Number)

When arranging an in-person visit with an inmate, the person seeking to visit will be assigned a ‘Visitor Index Number’ known as a ‘VIN’. When applying for a VIN identification documents such as a driver’s licence or birth certificate will be required. 

Booking a visit

Contact the correctional facility where the person is being held in custody to arrange the visit or register online through the JUSTConnect Online Scheduling System. 

JUSTConnect

Visitation days may vary from gaol to gaol. It is recommended to confirm that the inmate is still being held at that correctional centre and hasn’t been transferred to another facility before the visit booking. This can be done by contacting the Inmate Location Line on 02 8346 1000. 

Are there any restrictions on visitation?

Friends, family members or members of the community are allowed to visit an inmate in custody. Journalists are not allowed to visit inmates. Inmates can refuse to meet a visitor that has scheduled a visit if they do not want it to occur. 

What to bring to a visit

Visitors are required to bring and present identification documents when visiting a person in custody. These documents need to show your current residential address and must correspond with the name and address details used when making the visitation booking. 

A list of the ID requirements can be found on the Corrective Services Website – https://correctiveservices.dcj.nsw.gov.au/contact-and-visit-inmates/visit-an-inmate/what-you-will-need.html . 

What not to bring to a visit

It is important to be conscious of any and all items you are bringing into a correctional facility. You need to ensure that you do not have any illicit drugs on your person or in your vehicle when attending the correctional centre for the visit. It is a serious offence to bring or attempt to bring any contraband into a place of detention and the offence carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment. 

Dress code 

Correctional facilities have and enforce strict conditions of entry including a dress code. Failing to comply with the dress code may result in you being denied entry or your visit being terminated. Each correctional facility may have additional rules about dress code; it is important to check with the individual centre you are visiting.

The general dress code that applies includes:

• Visitors are to wear appropriate clothing to the centre,
• The following items are prohibited:
  • Exposed midriffs, 
  • Low-cut, backless, sleeveless or strapless shirts, 
  • Singlets, 
  • Short skirts, 
  • Shorts.
• All jewellery (excluding wedding bands) must be removed including ear and body piercings,
• Visitors are not to wear hooded jumpers, jackets, scarves, handkerchiefs, hats or sunglasses. 
• Visitors cannot take personal items into the visiting area.

Visitation rules and procedure

When arriving at the correctional centre the visitor will be subject to a full body x-ray scan and biometrics identification scan. Corrections Officers have the powers to require visitors to turn out any pockets and child pockets, open bags or belongings, walk through a metal detector, undergo a full body scan and/or the use of drug detection dogs. 

There is a smoking ban that applies to all staff, inmates and visitors at NSW Correctional Centres. The smoking ban applies to all of the Correctional Centre premises including car parks. 

3 – Staying in Contact

You can also stay in contact with the inmate while they are in custody through other methods of contact such as phone calls, letter writing or video calls. 

Phone calls

When in custody each inmate is given a phone card with the space for 6 numbers of family and friends to be listed to allow them to call those persons from the correctional centre. Unfortunately, there is no way for you to make a phone call directly to an inmate, but the inmate can contact you on the public phone at the correctional centre. When receiving calls from a correctional centre, you will be informed by a recorded message that the call is coming from a correctional centre and that the call is being recorded. 

Mail

You can send letters and mail to the inmate in custody. When preparing the letter, the MIN and correctional centre should be clearly printed on the front to assist in locating the delivery address for the inmate. All letters and mail are opened and inspected by Corrections staff for contraband or illegal activity before the correspondence is given to the inmate. 

Video calls

If you are unable to visit in person, a video visit can be arranged with the inmate. Video visits can be arranged through the JUSTConnect online scheduling system.

JUSTConnect

4 – Sending Money to an Inmate:

While in custody inmates will rely on money from families and friends to purchase items such as toiletries, magazines, newspapers or telephone calls from the correctional centre. 

To deposit money to an inmate’s account you will need:

• Your VIN, 
• A Corrective Services NSW Depositor Reference Report containing a Customer Reference Number for BPAY and Australia Post, as well as the BPAY Biller Code for Corrective Services NSW, 
• A different Customer Reference Number for each inmate account where money will be deposited. 

The Corrective Services NSW Depositor Reference Report can be obtained at the correctional centre when visiting a person, sent electronically by Corrective Services NSW staff or posted by Corrective Services NSW staff to a residential address. 

Inmates can have a maximum amount of $800.00 in their account per month. The maximum amount per deposit is $100.00. The deposited funds can be expected to appear in the inmate’s account after two working days. 

Further information about sending money to an inmate can be found on the Corrective Services website. 

5 – Transferral of Inmates:

It is not uncommon for inmates to be transferred between correctional centres in New South Wales. This can occur for a range of reasons including a change in the inmate’s classification, overcrowding, the need to repair or rebuild the centre or an outbreak of disease to name a few. 

If the inmate is to be moved to a new facility and will be too far away for friends and family to visit, or if you are concerned for the inmate’s safety at the existing or new facility, you can contact the Officer in Charge of the Correctional Facility where the inmate is housed to express your concerns. You are encouraged to detail all reasons in support of the inmate not being transferred including upcoming legal appointments, compassionate grounds, fear for safety, limitations on ability to see the inmate at the new facility. Further correspondence about the transfer of inmates can be made in writing to the Officer of the Commissioner of Corrective Services. 

6 – Resources:

There are a variety of resources available to provide support and assistance to the family members of those in custody.

Community Restorative Centre

The Community Restorative Centre (CRC) is a NSW community organisation dedicated to supporting people affected by the criminal justice system, particularly prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families and friends. Their staff offer personal and practical assistance such as counselling, accommodation, a subsidised transport service, a court support service, outreach to prisons, and information, advice and referrals.

Prisoners’ Aid Association NSW

The Prisoners’ Aid Association NSW aim to help every person who has experienced gaol gain the support, skills and opportunities they need to have a future where they thrive. 

NSW Corrective Services Website

The NSW Corrective Services Website contains lots of important information for persons and family members in custody.