NZQA registered unit standard
27295 version 1
Page 1 of 5
Title
Conduct non-prisoner and property searches in a prison
environment
Level
4
Purpose
Credits
4
This unit standard is for people working as officers in a prison
environment and covers the organisation of non-prisoner and
property searches.
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
 isolate individual(s) and property to be searched and search
area;
 conduct search in a prison environment;
 manage search outcome in a prison environment;
 manage unauthorised items and exhibits obtained in search;
and
 record search results.
Classification
Offender Management > Prison Safety and Security
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for workplace assessment.
2
Boundaries of unit standard
This unit standard covers rubdowns, scanner and x-ray searches; cell, prison
worksite and personal property and vehicle searches. It does not cover internal
cavity searches.
This unit standard does not cover prisoner, cell, and site searches which are covered
by Unit 14642, Conduct prisoner and security searches in a prison environment.
This unit standard does not cover the use of x-ray and electronic scanner equipment
which is covered by Unit 27293, Operate x-ray and electronic scanning equipment in
a prison environment.
ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27295 version 1
Page 2 of 5
3
References
Corrections Act 2004;
Corrections Regulations 2005;
Crimes Act 1961;
Crimes of Torture Act 1989;
Criminal Justice Act 1985;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990;
Parole Act 2002;
Privacy Act 1993;
PS Operations Manual, Department of Corrections, available at
http://www.corrections.govt.nz/policy-and-legislation/ps-operations-manual.html;
Sentencing Act 2002;
and their subsequent amendments or replacements.
4
Definitions
Drugs – prescription medicines and illicit drugs.
IOMS – Integrated Offender Management System.
Property – may include but is not limited to – equipment, bags, vehicle searches.
Non-prisoner – may include but is not limited to – contractors, prisoner visitors, social
workers, prison visitors.
Prison environment – any area, within a prison site or external to a prison site where
prisoners are held, such as a cell block, within the prison perimeter, on a prison farm,
in a vehicle transporting prisoners.
Prohibited items – items identified in P.01, Schedule 04 of the PSOM.
Search – such as staff or prison visitor searches, rub-downs, x-ray searches, scanner
searches.
Search equipment may include but is not limited to – gloves, mirrors, hand-held
scanners.
Unauthorised items – items that prisoners must not have access to within prisons, in
accordance with sections 3 (unauthorised items) and 43(2) of the Corrections Act
2004.
5
Assessment range
a Performance of the outcomes of this unit standard must meet all the principles of
behaviour and criteria as detailed in the Prison Services Operations Manual
(PSOM), Department of Corrections (available at
http://www.corrections.govt.nz/policy-and-legislation/ps-operations-manual.html),
the Department of Corrections Code of Conduct, other documented national
policies and procedures, and prison-specific procedures.
b The range statements in this unit standard must be applied according to prisonspecific equipment, procedures, and processes.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Isolate individual(s) and property to be searched and search area.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Carry out isolation activities.
ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.2
27295 version 1
Page 3 of 5
Identify locations of individual(s) in relation to search area and individual(s) to
be searched and implement actions to ensure adherence to all standards.
Outcome 2
Conduct search in a prison environment.
Range
may include but is not limited to – visitor, staff member, personal property,
vehicle.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Advise individual(s) of their rights and explain the process.
2.2
Identify and apply health and safety procedures and equipment requirements
for all searches.
2.3
Carry out person search.
Range
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Corrections Act 2004, local
instructions, health and safety procedures, established prison
policy and procedures.
2.4
Use search equipment.
2.5
Identify unauthorised and prohibited items.
Range
unauthorised items include but are not limited to – drugs, alcohol,
weapons, chemicals, money.
Outcome 3
Manage search outcome in a prison environment.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Determine whether charges are to be laid against individuals found with
prohibited and/or unauthorised items based on the assessed risk, incident,
nature and quantity of items and in consultation with relevant officers or other
individuals.
3.2
Obtain authority to detain or arrest individuals with all required parties advised.
Outcome 4
Manage unauthorised items and exhibits obtained during search.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Maintain chain of evidence integrity.
ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27295 version 1
Page 4 of 5
4.2
Remove unauthorised items and exhibits from search area.
4.3
Securely store unauthorised items and exhibits and make available to
authorised people when required for legal action.
4.4
Describe the process of disposing of items and exhibits within required
timeframes.
4.5
Return unauthorised items not subject to charges to searched person.
Outcome 5
Record search results.
Range
may include but is not limited to - incident reports, exclusion notices, notebook,
exhibit forms, visitor search consent forms, IOMS, arrest forms, search and lock
up book, registers, exhibit register;
evidence of four is required.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Record search information in the required format concisely, accurately, and
legibly and complete within scheduled timeframe.
Planned review date
31 December 2016
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
20 May 2011
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0003
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, or
an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can
report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading
to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Consent requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27295 version 1
Page 5 of 5
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
reviewcomments@etito.co.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit
standard.
ElectroTechnology Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016