Corrections rules will change
Rules relating to corrections will change.
Corrections Amendment Regulations 2026
What's changing
- Privacy screening rules will apply to mental-health assessment, at-risk, and cell-confinement cells.
- Health professionals must visit at-risk prisoners, make recommendations, and keep written health-record notes.
- Drop pins may be used for circumstances covering all prisoners, including prisoners covered by another circumstance.
- New CCTV rules will limit camera placement and protect privacy during medical examinations, strip searches, and toilet or shower use.
Who's affected
Prisoners, prison managers, health professionals, and prison operators will be affected.
When
The privacy-screening and drop-pin changes start on 22 October 2026; CCTV changes start on 21 September 2031, with some privacy-screening requirements optional until 6 July 2028.
What you might need to do
- Prison managers must make the required safety decisions and consult health-centre managers about clinical considerations.
- Health professionals must visit at-risk prisoners, make required recommendations, and record visits and reports.
- Prison operators must prepare their CCTV systems for the rules starting in 2031.
Background
The regulations set processes for privacy screening, at-risk prisoner care, restraints, and CCTV in prisons. The government says the later CCTV start date allows time to change prison systems and provide operational guidance.