Version No. 164
Corrections Act 1986
No. 117 of 1986
Version incorporating amendments as at
22 October 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purposes
2Commencement
3Definitions
3AMeaning of terrorism record
3BMeaning of terrorism risk information
4References to prisons to include transition centres
5Act to bind Crown
Part 1A—Legal custody
Division 1—Custody of the Secretary or the Chief Commissioner of Police
6Order of imprisonment
6AWhen is a person in the legal custody of the Secretary?
6BWhen does legal custody of the Secretary cease?
6CPersons not regarded to be in the Secretary's legal custody
6DWhen is a person in the legal custody of the Chief Commissioner of Police?
6EWhen does legal custody of the Chief Commissioner cease?
6EAPrisoner may request delayed release
6FPowers of court or tribunal not to be affected
Division 2—Custody of the Commissioner
6GWhen is a person in the legal custody of the Commissioner?
6HWhen does legal custody of the Commissioner cease?
6IPowers of court or tribunal not affected
Division 2A—Arrangements for detention of persons subject to certain orders
6JArrangements for detention of person subject to Commonwealth continuing detention order or Commonwealth interim detention order
6KPersons detained under arrangement to be managed under this Act
6LValidation
Part 2—Administration
7Functions of Secretary
8Delegation
8ACommissioner
8ABDelegation by Commissioner
Part 2A—Engagement of contractors
Division 1—Correctional services agreements
8BMinister may enter into correctional services agreements
8CMatters to be included in agreement
8CAMinister may grant lease or licence over reserved Crown land
8DAgreement to run with land
8ERights of access
8FEmergency powers
8GBuilding work
Division 2—Management agreements
9Management agreements
Division 3—Agreements with the Chief Commissioner of Police
9AAAgreements with the Chief Commissioner
9ABMatters to be included in agreement
9ACRights of access
Division 4—General provisions relating to agreements
9AAuthorisation of certain staff
9BPolice inquiry and report
9CStatus of staff
9CAStaff—police gaols
9CAATransport functions
9CBUse of reasonable force by staff—police gaols
9DEmployment of monitors
9EMinimum standards
9FApplication of FOI
Part 3—Prisons and police gaols
10Establishment of prisons
11Police gaols
11AEstablishment of transition centres
Part 4—Officers
12Employment under the Public Administration Act
12AAuthority to exercise powers, functions and duties of community corrections officer or Regional Manager
13Volunteers
Part 5—Prison officers and other officers working in prisons
Division 1—General
14Definitions
Division 2—Work
15Authorized persons may act as prison officers
16Secretary may authorize medical practitioner to act as principal medical officer or medical officer
17Powers of Secretary
18Prison officer subject to direction of principal of training institutions
19Officers subject to certain directions
20Duties relating to security and welfare
21Duties of Governor
22Reports to Governor
22APowers of Governor
23Control of prisoners
23AUse of firearms by police exercising powers of a prison officer
Part 6—Management and administration of prisons
Division 1—Management and security of prisons
24Delegation by Governor
25Secretary may nominate person to act as Governor
26Management of prisons in Governor's temporary absence
27Dogs
28Photographing and fingerprinting
29Medical tests and samples
29APrisoners may be tested for drug or alcohol use
30Electronic monitoring of prisoners
30AVictim may be given certain copies of orders and information about a prisoner
30BApplication to…