I am pleased to advise that limited face-to-face social visits will be recommencing at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) from Wednesday 9 September 2020. I appreciate that this has been an incredibly difficult time for many over recent months, and I hope that this will be a welcome chance for visitors to reconnect with their loved ones.
It is important that visits are resumed in a safe and gradual way to continue to protect the health and wellbeing of all within the centre. Considerable work has been undertaken to ensure visits are conducted with the appropriate physical distancing and hygiene requirements necessary to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and detainees.
To keep you and everyone within the AMC safe, new visitor restrictions will be implemented to ensure that ACT Corrective Services (ACTCS) meets both public health advice and workplace health and safety guidelines. These measures are also necessary to minimise the entry of contraband items into the AMC and the harm caused by illicit substances and other prohibited items.
I acknowledge that these arrangements are less flexible than pre COVID-19, however, they are necessary for ACTCS to be able to recommence visits at this time. It is important that staff, visitors and detainees continue to show patience and understanding and work together for the health and wellbeing of all. These arrangements will be kept under review as the COVID-19 situation changes.
Interim arrangements
Please be advised that visit sessions are limited due to the requirements for ACTCS to continue to maintain appropriate physical distancing and will be booked on a ‘first come, first served basis’.
Detainees are required to provide a ‘nominated visitors list’ before visits can be booked, and as previously mentioned, all social visitors to the AMC will need to reconfirm their identity with ACTCS.
Due to physical distancing requirements, only one adult visitor and one child visitor per detainee will be permitted at this time and unfortunately social visits will be limited to immediate family and partners only. Those visitors who are restricted from accessing social visits will still be able to book an audio-visual visit with a detainee.
It is particularly important that the following conditions are adhered to during your visit:
Non-adherence to these guidelines will result in a termination of the visit and possible future access restrictions being imposed.
It is important that all visitors familiarise themselves with the information and changes that are provided in the attached factsheet and interim guidelines to ensure that both your visit bookings and entry to the AMC go smoothly.
For further information, please refer to the attached documents or the interim arrangements on the ACT Corrective Services website.
Kind regards
Jon
Jon Peach
Commissioner
Interim Visits Guidelines for the AMC
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
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 04/2020
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 05/2020
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 06/2020
Notice to Visitors Updates on AMC visits arrangements 07/2020
