Any of your things that you brought with you to the court will be taken with you to the prison. These items will be sorted when you arrive at the prison, and you’ll be told what you’ll be allowed to keep with you in your cell and what will have to go into storage.

Here’s some information about specific things that you can or can’t take with you:

• TVs – You can’t take a TV with you, but you’ll be issued with one when you get to prison if you want one. This will cost you $2 a week to rent.
• Radios/clocks – You can take a radio and an alarm clock with you. If these are new items still in their sealed packaging they’ll be processed faster through the prison’s receiving office than if they’re not new.
• Underwear etc. – You can take five sets of underwear, socks and thermals with you.
• Your own clothes – You can take one full set of clothes for when you need to go to court or for when you’re released.
• Shoes – You can take two pairs of shoes with you.
• Toiletries – Different prisons seem to have slightly different rules about toiletries, such as deodorants, but usually you won’t be allowed to bring in any spray bottles. You can buy roll-on deodorant, toothbrushes and shampoo through the prison canteen.

See “Your property: What you’re allowed to have in prison” in this chapter

While you’re waiting to be processed you’ll usually be placed in a temporary cell (a “holding cell”).

There will be other prisoners in the cell. Usually the holding cell will be for all the prisoners who have arrived from the court.

Yes, you can talk to the other prisoners. If you’re threatened by any other prisoners, you can report this to a prison officer.

Prison Operations Manual, I.04

Yes, if this is necessary. If you’re concerned for your safety because of your age, any mental-health issues you may have, or any other reason, make this clear to your lawyer when you’re at the courts. Your lawyer can then tell the transporting police or prison officers about this, and if appropriate can even email the prison’s receiving office about your concerns.

If you haven’t spoken to your lawyer about this you can talk to the transporting officers yourself between the courts and the prison and then also the prison receiving office when you’re processed there. The receiving officer is supposed to ask you questions about safety issues such as these – you should answer these fully and honestly.

Corrections Act 2004, ss 47, 49; Corrections Regulations 2005, regs 44-47, 52F, 52N; Prison Operations Manual, I.04, M.02.01

After you’re processed you’ll have an assessment to identify what your needs are and what part of the prison you should be placed in. This will consist of various interviews and checks with different prison staff, including medical staff:

• Health check – A nurse will come in and ask you a number of questions about your health and medical needs. This is called a “reception health screen” – see the chapter “Health and disability“. The nurse will also find out whether you need any medication, such as an asthma puffer.
• Risk of self-harm – A prison officer will then talk to you and ask you how you feel about being in prison and how you’re feeling generally, and see if there’s any risk of you harming yourself – this is called an “at-risk assessment”.
• Immediate needs – A prison officer will also carry out an “immediate needs assessment”. They’ll work through a checklist to make sure your immediate needs are met.
• Gang issues – You’ll also be asked if you’re in a gang. If you are, or if you have any gang affiliations, the PCO of your unit will re-interview you within the next one or two days, to get more details and whether you expect to have any hassles with other gangs or with specific gang members.

Your at-risk assessment and immediate needs assessment must take place within four hours after you arrive at the prison. If there’s no time for the assessment you’ll be placed in a “clean” cell (a cell that only prisoners who have been searched are allowed in) until the assessment takes place.

Prison Operations Manual, I.07

There’ll be a brief induction process when you get to your particular unit. A prison officer will go through day-to-day activities, showers and meals, and they’ll give you a piece of paper with information about visiting times and other issues. A prison officer will also go through your cell with you, making sure there’s no damage to the cell.

You’ll also be given the following information:

• how to access the First Days Booklet (including information on how to use the prisoners’ kiosk)
• the Local Induction Handbook, which explains prison rules and practices
• information on how mail and telephone calls are monitored
• a copy of the “authorised property rules”, which sets out what types of things you’re allowed to have in prison.

Later on you’ll be given information about parole and residential restrictions. You’ll get this through your case manager when they do your sentence plan. It can take a few weeks before this is done. They’ll discuss with you all about qualifying for parole and about options for rehabilitation programmes while you’re in prison (like drug/alcohol programmes and programmes aimed at stopping re-offending).