Australian prisons are run independently by each State and Territory. There are 6 states and two territories.
Keeping in contact
Letters
You can write to your loved one and it is important to include your family member’s full name and their assigned prison number as well as your own name and address on the envelope. Some prisons accept parcels but the rules vary from prion to prison
There is an online email system for a large proportion of the prisons in Australia. Visit: www.emailaprisoner.com.au to find out if it is operating in the prison your family member is detained in. It costs AUD$1.00 to send a message, AUD$0.75 if you request a reply and AUD$0.65 per photo uploaded (not available in all participating prisons).
You may write a maximum of 2,500 characters and up to 50 lines per page. It will cost AUD$1.00 for each additional page. There are counters below the message to help you keep count and a total cost of the message will be displayed.
Phone calls
Your loved one must request that your number be placed on their account before they can call you. The requirements vary from prison to prison. Once the prison verifies that the number belongs to you and you are happy for your number to be included on your loved one’s prison telephone account, they should be able to call you.
Video Calls
You need to use a smart phone, desktop with camera attached or a tablet for video calls. Australia predominately provides their video calls through Zoom or Skype, this will need to be arranged by your loved one, once you have become an approved visitor.
Visiting your loved one
You are required to be pre-approved for all prison visits in Australia, the requirements for which will vary from state to state. It is a fairly quick process and you can become an approved visitor within 3-4 weeks once all paperwork is submitted. In some cases, your loved one may need to send you the visitor approval paperwork but again, the prison website will let you know about this procedure.
Sending money
Payments can be made by international bank transfer or Secure Payment Services (SPS): secure-payment-services.com.au. There is a charge for using SPS. IF SPS is not available at that prison, the Department of Foreign Affairs can also assist you in transferring money to your family member . If your family member is experiencing extreme hardship and you are unable to assist them financially, please contact the ICPO to request a Hardship Fund grant for them. The amount varies from country to country and we may not be able to meet all requests for support, however each request will be given consideration.
Concerned for your family member’s wellbeing
If you are concerned about your family member, you can contact the prison directly by phone. You can also contact your ICPO caseworker who will put you in contact with relevant agencies such as the Irish Embassy/Consulate and Irish welfare groups.
Further information
You can find more information about prison conditions in Australia by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/australia-prisoner-pack Although these guides are directed at British citizens, the provide reliable information about prison conditions and the justice system which you may find helpful.
