What
Corrections Victoria operates a structured escort schedule that facilitates the movement of
prisoners between Victorian prisons, police and youth justice centres. A private contractor
provides this escort function.
Escorting prisoners participating in the Custodial Community Permit Program (CCPP) is
the responsibility of prison management or the SESG.
Why
Prisoners are required to be transported in accordance with their classification.
When
Prisoners are transported between prisons and other facilities, and to medical and court
appointments as required.
Who
The Escort Coordinator, Sentence Management Branch is responsible for the
coordination of all transfers between prisons.
SENTENCE MANAGEMENT MANUAL
This Commissioner’s Requirement describes the process and key considerations in
the administration of prisoner transfers within Victoria.
CORRECTIONS VICTORIA - SENTENCE MANAGEMENT BRANCH
INTERPRISON AND POLICE/COURT
TRANSFERS
Prison management is responsible for ensuring prisoners are transferred with the
necessary documentation.
The SESG is responsible for escorting prisoners on the High Security Escort List and
certain Corrections Administration Permits.
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PT
1
INTERPRISON AND POLICE/COURT TRANSFERS
PT 1
Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Guiding Principle
Transport Responsibilities
Transfer Process
Proposal for transfer
4.1
Inter-prison Transfers
4.1.1 Requesting the Transport Service
4.2
Court Appearances
4.2.1 Requesting the Transport Service
4.3
Medical Appointments
Requests for cancellation of transfers
Refusal to Transfer
Prison Responsibilities on Transfer
Prisoner Property
Contract and Additional Services
9.1
Process for requesting Additional Services
9.2
Ad Hoc requests
Prisoner Transport Contacts
Schedules
Schedule PT1.1:
Schedule PT1.2:
Schedule PT1.3:
Schedule PT1.4:
Escort Schedule
Prisoner Movement Sheet
Instrument of Transfer
Separation rules for prisoner transport
Related Policy and Procedure
Corrections Act 1986 (Section 56)
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
Custodial Community Permit Program Guidelines
SMM AC 9 - High Security Escort
SMM PT 4 - Mental Health Transfers
SMM PT 3 - Youth Justice Transfers
SMM PT 6 - Interstate Transfers
SMM PT 7 - International Transfer
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1.
PT 1
Guiding Principle
Transportation of prisoners must take place in a secure and efficient manner, under conditions appropriate
to the prisoner’s security rating. Prisoners must not be transferred without proper approval and
authorisation. The transfer of a prisoner is completed upon the prisoner being received at the receiving
location, or in the case of a medical appointment or escorted CCPP, the prisoner being returned to the
prison.
2.
Transport Responsibilities
The following table lists the various groups who provide advice to the Prisoner Transport Contractor, and
their responsibilities.
Prisoner Management
Unit (PMU) – Victoria
Police
Police moves
 Police custody to police custody
 Police custody to prisons custody
 Police custody to juvenile justice custody
 Police custody to forensic health custody
Court moves
 Prison custody to/from Magistrates Court
 Prison custody to/from Country County and Supreme Courts
 Prison custody to/from Children’s Court
Juvenile Court moves
 Juvenile justice custody to/from Courts
Forensic Health moves
 Forensic health to/from courts



Inter-prison transfers
Forensic health to prison
St Augustine’s Ward (secure ward at St Vincent’s hospital)
to prison
Sentence Calculation
and Warrant
Administration Unit


Prison custody to/from Melbourne Supreme Court
Prison custody to/from Melbourne County Court
Victorian Prisons




Ad hoc prisoner transport requests
Modification to scheduled request
Prison to forensic health
CCPP

Advise prisoner transport contractor when prisoners are
ready for collection
High Court gains
Sentence
Management Branch
Victorian County and
Supreme Court

This procedure only details the responsibilities of the Sentence Management Branch, Victorian prisons and
the Sentence Calculation and Warrant Administration Unit.
3.
Transfer Process
The reasons why a prisoner is transferring, and the locations involved in that transfer (e.g. prisons, court,
hospital) will impact on who coordinates and conducts the escort.
As outlined above, the Sentence Management Branch is responsible for coordinating, proposing and
finalising all inter-prison escorts provided by the Prisoner Transport Contractor. This includes transferring
prisoners between Victorian prisons such as transferring prisoners to their classified location, returning
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prisoners from scheduled escorts for reclassification purposes, or facilitating attendance at court or medical
appointments.
Prison management is responsible for providing advice to Victoria Police and the Prisoner Transport
Contractor regarding standard court transfers and transporting prisoners in circumstances that are outside the
regular prisoner transport service provided by the Contractor. The latter may include:
 unexpected transport to courts, tribunals or other hearings (outside of the routine transportation
schedule) to enable prisoners to appear at the required time
 escorts for medical or dental treatment or assessment
 transfers to Thomas Embling Hospital and the secure ward at St Vincent’s Hospital
 escorts as part of a Corrections Administration Permit or the Rehabilitation & Transition Permit
Program.
4.
Proposal for transfer
To transfer a prisoner from one prison to another, a proposal must be generated in PIMS. These proposals
are generated by the Escort Coordinator, Sentence Management Branch.
Prison management is responsible for generating a movement proposal for the transfers that are
responsible for (for example, medical or court escorts).
Transfers can be initiated in one of the following ways:









classification decision
receipt of jail order or appropriate legal documentation
medical appointment (arranged by medical officers at Port Phillip Prison)
Adult Parole Board appointment (notification of meeting and/or psychologist/psychiatrist
appointment received from Adult Parole Board)
request for extradition
deportation order (from police or the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs [DIMA])
Case Management Review Committee decision to approve a Rehabilitation and Transition
Permit
mental health transfer
approval of a Corrections Administration Permit.
Prisoners may also be transferred from one prison or unit, to another prison or unit following a decision by
the:






Commissioner;
Deputy Commissioner, Operations
Assistant Commissioner, Sentence Management Branch
Manager, Major Offenders Unit
Manager, Sentence Management Unit Operations
a member of the Corrections Victoria Duty Director group.
where it is believed that the continued presence of the prisoner is likely to jeopardise the security, good
order or management of the prison.
4.1
Inter-prison Transfers
The Escort Coordinator, Sentence Management Branch is responsible for reviewing the potential escort list
in PIMS to select prisoners suitable for transfer.
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Unless exceptional circumstances exist prisoners must have a minimum of 10 days left on their sentence to
be transferred to another location.
Where a prisoner’s medical appointment is scheduled for some time in advance (i.e. greater than 2 weeks),
the prisoner may be transferred to their classified location and then returned for their appointment.
Where a prisoner’s court appearance is scheduled for some time in advance (i.e. greater than 2 weeks), the
prisoner may be transferred to their classified location and then returned for their court appearance.
When selecting a prisoner to transfer to a minimum-security prison, the Escort Coordinator is required to
check for any proposed court moves and advise the relevant SMU portfolio holder to review the prisoner’s
classification if applicable.
Identify any prisoner who has transferred from a minimum security location as a result of concerns
regarding their mental health and advise the relevant SMU portfolio holder to review the prisoner’s
classification.
The Escort Coordinator must fax the proposed escort lists to the Health Providers at Melbourne
Assessment Prison, Metropolitan Remand Centre, Port Phillip Prison and Dame Phyllis Frost Centre the
morning prior to the scheduled escort. The Health Providers are responsible for reviewing the proposed
escort list and advising the Escort Coordinator whether any of the prisoners scheduled to transfer from their
location are not suitable for transfer. This involves indentifying those prisoners who are not medically fit to
travel or whose medical needs can not be adequately met by the receiving prison.
Notification of a scheduled transfer is provided to prison management at least the day prior to the proposed
move.
4.1.1
Requesting the Transport service
For inter-prison transfers, the Escort Coordinator is responsible for completing the Prisoner Transport
Request which and emailing it to the Prisoner Transport Contractor. This provides the instruction to the
Prisoner Transport Contractor for scheduling, management and placement of prisoners on vehicles. The
Prisoner Transport contractor is responsible for ensuring that every prisoner transfer takes into account all
information provided in the Prisoner Transport Request.
The Prisoner Transport Request should be provided to the Prisoner Transport Contractor by 3pm, but not
later than 6pm the day prior to the scheduled escort.
4.2
Court Appearances
Upon receiving a jail order or appropriate legal documentation, prison management and the Sentence
Calculation and Warrant Administration Unit are responsible for proposing prisoners movements to attend
court.
The Escort Coordinator is responsible for monitoring prisoners who are required to return to their
intermediate classified location to attend court and ensuring they have transferred at least one day prior to
their scheduled court appearance. If a prisoner is required to attend court in Mildura, Portland, Edenhope,
Corryong, Hopetoun and Nhill they are required to be returned to their intermediate classified location at
least three days prior to their scheduled court appearance.
4.2.1
Requesting the Transport Service
Each day, no later than 6pm (on the day prior to the court appearance), prison management and the
Sentence Calculation and Warrant Administration Unit are responsible for advising the Prisoner Transport
Contractor and Victoria Police which prisoners are required to attend court . This includes completing the
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Prisoner Transport Request (Schedule PT1.2) to ensure that the appropriate separation of prisoners is
clearly detailed and that the Contractor is made fully aware of the specific risks associated with each
prisoner.
Prison management is responsible for conducting the escort for prisoners who are required to attend courts,
tribunals or other hearings outside routine transportation requirements. This process needs to be completed
in line with the CCPP Guidelines. This can include Federal Law Court, Family Law Court or Administrative
Appeals Tribunal.
4.3
Medical Appointments
Prison management is responsible for proposing and facilitating prisoner movements to attend external
medical appointments. This process needs to be completed in line with the CCPP Guidelines.
The Prisoner Transfer Contractor can provide transport for patients returning from St Augustine’s (St
Vincent’s Hospital), provided that appropriate notice is given. This needs to be coordinated by the Manager,
Sentence Management Unit Operations.
5.
Requests for cancellation of transfers
Requests for removal of a prisoner from an escort list may originate from:











Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner, Operations
Deputy Commissioner, Offender Management
Assistant Commissioner, Sentence Management Branch
Manager, Major Offenders Unit
Manager, Sentence Management Unit Operations
Senior Assistant Managers or Assistant Managers, Sentence Management Branch
police (further charges, ongoing investigation, security risk)
solicitors (request to accommodate them closer for instructions)
family members (unable to visit outside metropolitan or country area)
prison manager of transferring or receiving location (for example, where placement,
management, security or other issues arise)
 medical staff (may have a forthcoming appointment or not fit to travel).
If someone other than Sentence Management, Sentence Calculation and Warrant Administration Unit or
medical staff make the request, the person making the request should, discuss the matter with the
appropriate Sentence Management Branch portfolio holder who will determine whether the prisoner is
required to be reclassified. If cancellation is required they will advise the Escort Coordinator to cancel the
proposed transfer and amend PIMS accordingly.
6.
Refusal to Transfer
If a prisoner refuses to board the escort vehicle, prison managers should ascertain the reason for the
refusal and attempt to resolve any concerns. Two common causes for refusals on inter-prison escorts are
protection concerns and change of mind about attending a medical appointment.
In dealing with refusals arising out of protection concerns prison managers must seek advice from the
appropriate Sentence Management Branch portfolio holder who will determine whether the transfer
proceeds or whether the prisoner requires to be reclassified.
Once a prisoner has transferred to their classified location, they may choose to refuse to return for a
medical appointment when it is due. A waiver must be signed by the prisoner to remove them from the
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PT 1
escort. If this occurs the location must notify the Escort Coordinator that the prisoner has chosen not to
return for the appointment and that a medical waiver has been signed. On receipt of this information, the
Escort Coordinator will cancel the proposed move.
Sometimes a prisoner may refuse to attend court. In these instances, prison management is responsible for
advising the court of the prisoner’s refusal to attend and seek further instructions from the court.
7.
Prison Responsibilities on Interprison Transfers
Prior to transfer, prison management must ensure that:
 the prisoner’s earnings are balanced and transferred to his or her account
 the prisoner’s private monies are balanced and transferred to his or her account
 the prisoner’s property is checked, itemised and recorded, and sealed in a property container in
the presence of the prisoner.
Prison management is responsible for ensuring that all required documentation accompanies the prisoner.
These documents include:






8.
warrant file
property sheet
credit note (earnings/private money)
Individual Management File (complete with up-to-date file notes)
Instrument of Transfer
medical file and medication.
Prisoner Property
The prisoner’s property must be transported with the prisoner wherever possible. Prison management at
the receiving location must ensure that property is verified, and the contents, recorded in the presence of
the prisoner.
In accordance with the Prisoner Transport Services Contract, no more than 20kg of property may be
transferred with any prisoner in either bags or a maximum of two plastic containers.
For prisoners requiring transport that has excess property (more than 20kg, equivalent to two tubs or bags),
excluding valuables and medications, the following process applies:
 by 4pm, two days before transport, the dispatching prison is required to submit a request to the
Prisoner Transport Contractor (via vpcontrol@au.g4s.com) for transportation of excess property
o this request needs to outline the prisoner/s name, CRN and any excess baggage to be
transported
 the Contractor will assess whether the all of the excess baggage or part thereof, can be
transported
 the Contractor will contact the receiving prison via email, to seek permission for any excess
property to be delivered
 a reply email will be sent as soon as possible (by 9am on the day of transport), outlining the
amount of any excess property that can be transported
 if not all excess baggage can be transported, then it is the dispatching prisons responsibility to
organise what excess property will and will not be transported.
9.
Contract and Additional Services
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The contract for prisoner transport services is based on an agreed threshold of service. Criteria and
payment for additional services is included in the contract. The contracted and additional services are
summarised below:
Contract and Additional Services
Service type
Threshold
Additional Services billing criteria
Weekend service


7 per annum
Indexed each
contract year by the
prisoner count
increase %

Destination/collection
transfers that are
additional to the
standard weekly
escort schedule
Long distance ad hoc
moves that require a
dedicated vehicle and
crew
Police moves that are
required to occur
after 17.00 hours

Inter-prison service
Non-standard service
ad hoc moves









Other additional
services as outlined
in Contract clause
6.13
Nil



9.1
Applicable once the annual
service threshold has been
reached
Prisoner Transport Contractor to
report weekend services to date
in its monthly report
Acknowledged at time of the
order
Prisoner Transport Contractor to
report additional services year to
date in its monthly report
Ad hoc moves that occur inside
the standard service mix are not
billable
Commencing year 2 of the
Contact
Acknowledged at time of the
order
Prisoner Transport Contractor to
report additional services year to
date in its monthly report
Acknowledged at time of the
order
Includes use of wheelchair
vehicle
Prisoner Transport Contractor to
report additional services year to
date in its monthly report
Process for requesting Additional Services
In order for the Prisoner Transport Contractor to provide the necessary resources for additional escorts, it is
a contractual requirement that the State provide the Prisoner Transport Contractor with no less two
business days notice . Requests for additional services must be provided in writing:
 no later than close of business Wednesday for weekend services
 two full business days prior to an additional weekday service.
The actual names of the prisoners involved can be presented closer to the escort date, however the
booking process should indicate the locations involved and the number of prisoners. A copy of the request
is sent. When services are required with less notice, the Prisoner Transport Contractor will perform the
service, wherever possible.
9.2
Ad Hoc requests
An ad hoc request is a:
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PT 1
 Prisoner Transport Requests outside of the agreed schedule. For example, after 6.00pm the day
prior or on the morning/day of the request service
 a change in the content of the Prisoner Transport Request instruction. For example, prisoner
requested as mainstream and later required to travel alone
All ad hoc changes must be documented. Ad hoc changes are not bound by contracted delivery times, so a
change on the day of service is likely to impact on timely delivery of prisoners. Further, the Contractor is not
held responsible for the late delivery.
10.
Prisoner Transport Contacts
Escort Coordinator – Sentence Management Branch
Prisoner Transport Contractor
Contract Management Branch monitor the Prisoner Transport Inbox on a daily basis and respond to all
complaints or queries regarding the Service.
&P
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INTERPRISON AND POLICE/COURT TRANSFERS
PT 1
o
Schedules
The following Schedules are attached:
Schedule PT1.1:
Escort Schedule
Schedule PT1.2:
Prisoner Movement Sheet
Schedule PT1.3:
Instrument of Transfer
Schedule PT1.4:
Separation rules for prisoner transport
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PT 1
Schedule PT1.1
Escort Schedule
The table below outlines the regional escort schedule for inter-prisoner transfers. The schedule
is subject to change by agreement.
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PT 1
Schedule PT1.2
Prisoner Movement Sheet
LOCATION:
CRN
JAID
SURNAME
DATE:
DAILY REMANDS/MAGISTRATES’ COURT
NAME
CURRENT UNIT
PROFILE
(mainstream,
protection,
management)
CRN
SURNAME
NAME
SUPREME COURT
CURRENT UNIT
CRN
SURNAME
NAME
COUNTY COURT
CURRENT UNIT
CRN
SURNAME
CRN
SURNAME
Page 12 of 14
E*Justice
RISKS
DESTINATION
PROFILE
(mainstream,
protection,
management)
E*Justice
RISKS
DESTINATION
PROFILE
(mainstream,
protection,
management)
E*Justice
RISKS
DESTINATION
E*Justice
RISKS
DESTINATION
E*Justice
RISKS
DESTINATION
INTER PRISON TRANSFERS
NAME
CURRENT UNIT
PROFILE
(mainstream,
protection,
management)
NAME
TELECOURT
CURRENT UNIT
PROFILE
(mainstream,
protection,
management)
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INTERPRISON AND POLICE/COURT TRANSFERS
PT 1
Schedule PT1.3
INSTRUMENT OF TRANSFER
SECTION 56, 56AA, 56AB CORRECTIONS ACT 1986
TO THE OFFICER IN CHARGE AND WHOMEVER ELSE IT MAY CONCERN:
This warrant authorises the removal of the prisoner(s) listed below from:
....................................................................to.................................................................
(insert name of transferring prison)
CRN
(insert name of receiving prison)
Name of Prisoner(s)
Reason for Transfer
for the purposes listed until removed by lawful authority or returned as authorised to the transferring
prison/institution.
AUTHORISATION:
Name and position of authorising officer:
...............................................................................................
Signed:
..........................................................
Dated:...........................................
(AUTHORISING OFFICER)
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Schedule PT1.4
Separation rules for Prisoner Transport








prisoners classified as separation, protection or ‘must travel alone’ (MTA) must not travel in the
same compartment as, or have any opportunity for physical contact with mainstream prisoners
prisoner types cannot mix
prisoners marked as MTA must travel alone
all forensic health prisoners will travel alone unless otherwise noted
protection prisoner travelling to/from court may mix if they are from the same prison unit
prisoner mixing instruction based on unit names relates to MRC, PPP, MAP and DPFC court
movements
inter-prison transfers are to be processed as per the Prisoner Transport Request and further
separation is not required based on prison unit name
separation requirements for youths are detailed in attachment 7 of the Service Specifications.
Exceptions to the above business rules


permission may be provided intraday by Prisoner Management Unit (PMU) or SMU that overrides an
original instruction. In these cases the Prisoner Transport Contractor must complete an incident
report in the category ‘Failure to segregate Prisoners’ providing details as to why the original
instruction was not actioned
young offenders travelling from an adult prison will be treated as per the adult prison regime. For
example, mainstream can travel together, protections are separated by unit name and MTA must
travel alone.
P
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