On Sunday 22 March, ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) made the decision to suspend all social visits to the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made to protect the health and wellbeing of you, your loved ones and our staff.
As you will be aware the ACT Government has eased some restrictions over the past week, and this will continue over the coming month. The easing of restrictions has been, and will be, a gradual process as it is important to ensure that any changes are sustainable in the long term.
I appreciate that it is extremely hard not being able to visit your loved ones in the AMC and I am extremely committed to resuming visits as soon as is safe to do so. It is essential that we continue to follow the public health advice and the guidance of the ACT Government as restrictions are lifted.
The ACT Government has indicated that if the easing of restrictions continues to progress well, the next ‘stage’ of the recovery plan will take place through June. It is important to confirm that it is highly unlikely that contact visits at the AMC will resume before this time. Audio Visual visits will continue to operate until contact visits are able to resume.
We are currently working through our own recovery plan to return ACTCS operations back to ‘normal’ and visits is a key priority for us in this. Once we have further information with regard to timings, arrangements and any necessary ongoing restrictions these will be communicated directly to detainees and a further notice placed in our website. It is my intention that our return to business as usual will be gradual and may be behind what is seen in the wider community given the evident risks of COVID-19 to a correctional centre.
Once again, I appreciate this is a frustrating time for all and I hope that we will be able to provide further information shortly. I am grateful for your ongoing patience and understanding.
Kind regards,
Jon
Jon Peach
Commissioner
Notice to visitors - COVID-19
Previous Notices
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 01/2020
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 02/2020
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 03/2020
