Documents
Prisoner accommodation capacity definitions
Purpose
To document built capacity and counts for every custodial centre to be used for formal internal and external reporting purposes; and
To ensure the consistent use of terminology and counting rules for internal and external reporting of built capacity and counts at Queensland Corrective Services facilities.
- Process
The reporting of built facility capacity by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) staff or in reports generated via the Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS) must comply with the counting rules and terminology stipulated in this procedure.
Any reference to facility capacity numbers must refer to the figures in appendix – Prisoner accommodation capacity counts for corrective services facilities to this procedure.
All references to built facility capacity must be qualified by a reference to built cell count, built cell capacity and built bed capacity.
The use of bed and cell groupings and terminology outside those defined in this procedure should not be applied to external reporting of built facility capacity.
Changes to the facility capacity numbers for built cell count and built cell capacity as outlined in this procedure and appendix must be approved by the Commissioner, QCS.
Changes to capacity numbers outlined in the appendix due to the commissioning, decommissioning or recommissioning of part or entire corrective services facility must be approved by the Commissioner, QCS.
Changes to the facility capacity numbers for built bed capacity as outlined in this procedure and appendix must be approved by both the Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure, Asset Services and Major Capital Works Command in conjunction with the Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Futures Command.
The Strategic Futures Command is responsible for maintaining this procedure and advising relevant business units of any changes to the appendix.
Updates to the appendix will have effect from the end of the month when the update to the relevant capacity has been approved.
- Terminology
The following terms are defined and should be used for internal and external reporting of prisoner accommodation built capacity-
- Built cell count
- Built cell capacity
- Built bed capacity
2.1. Built cell count
2.1.1. Built cell count is defined as – the total number of built prisoner accommodation cells.
2.1.2. A ‘buddy’ or ‘dual occupancy’ cell built for two people is counted as one built cell.2.1.3.The following are included in the built cell count –
2.1.3.1. permanent prison accommodation;
2.1.3.2. special purpose accommodation where a general purpose cell is not reserved for the prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. pre-assembled buildings; and commissioned Maximum Security Units
2.1.3.3. cells that are temporarily unavailable for use due to maintenance or refurbishment
2.1.3.4. cells that, for operational reasons, are not being used for prisoner accommodation as designed, e.g. used as a store room and
2.1.3.5. Work Camp beds.
2.1.4. When a whole prison or entire unit has been decommissioned, a decision for inclusion will be determined by the Commissioner and will be assessed on the basis of work required to recommission the accommodation.
2.1.5. The following are excluded in the built cell count – special purpose accommodation where a general purpose cell is reserved for a prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. Detention Units, Health Centre Units, Safety Units, Crisis Support Units and Close Supervision and Support Units.
2.1.6. Built cell count for low security facilities is based on the number of designated bed places in shared cells or dormitories.
2.2. Built cell capacity
2.2.1. Built cell capacity is defined as – the total number of built prisoner accommodation cells and where a cell meets the requirements of dual occupancy, the cell is counted as having capacity for two.
2.2.2. A dual occupancy cell is defined as – a shared cell designed for two prisoners which satisfies all of the following requirements:
2.2.2.1 a cell footprint of at least 4m2 per prisoner plus sanitary facility (in secure unit this will be a minimum 10m2 total cell size)
2.2.2.2 have a cell footprint sufficient to accommodate two ground level beds and
2.2.2.3 have sufficient shelving for two sets of prisoner property (0.25m3 per prisoner), pursuant to property limits set within QCS Custodial Operational Practice Directive: Prisoner Property on Admission.
2.2.3. Any ‘buddy’ cells which do not meet the requirements of dual occupancy are counted as having capacity for one.
2.2.4. The following are included in the count of built bed capacity –
2.2.4.1. permanent prison accommodation
2.2.4.2. special purpose accommodation where a general purpose cell is not reserved for the prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. pre-assembled buildings, commissioned Maximum Security Units
2.2.4.3. cells that are temporarily unavailable for use due to maintenance or refurbishment
2.2.4.4. cells that, for operational reasons, are not being used for prisoner accommodation as designed, e.g. used as a store room and
2.2.4.5. Work Camp beds.
2.2.5. When a whole prison or entire unit has been decommissioned, a decision for inclusion will be determined by the Commissioner and will be assessed on the basis of work required to recommission the accommodation.
2.2.6. The following are excluded in the count of built cell capacity – special purpose accommodation where a general purpose cell is reserved for a prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. Detention Units, Health Centre Units, Safety Units, Crisis Support Units and Close Supervision and Support Units.
2.2.7. Built cell capacity for low security facilities is based on the number of designated bed places in shared cells or dormitories.
2.3. Built bed capacity
2.3.1. Built bed capacity is defined as – the number of built prisoner accommodation bed places in single, shared cells and dormitories.
2.3.1.1. A single cell is a cell or room designed for occupancy for a single person
2.3.1.2. A shared cell is a cell or room designed for occupancy for two or more people
2.3.2. A ‘buddy’ cell designed for two people is counted as two built beds, regardless of whether it meets the requirements of dual occupancy under 2.2.2.
2.3.3. A dormitory is a room designed for occupancy for more than four people.
2.3.4. The following are included in the count of built bed capacity –
2.3.4.1. permanent prison accommodation
2.3.4.2. special purpose accommodation where a general purpose bed is not reserved for the prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. pre-assembled buildings, commissioned Maximum Security Units
2.3.4.3. sections of facilities that have been temporarily decommissioned or sections of new facilities not yet commissioned
2.3.4.4. beds that are temporarily unavailable for use due to maintenance or refurbishment
2.3.4.5. Beds that, for operational reasons, are not being used for prisoner accommodation as designed, e.g. used as a store room
2.3.4.6. Work Camp beds and
2.3.4.7. permanent built bunks
2.3.5. When a whole prison or entire unit has been decommissioned, a decision for inclusion will be determined by the Commissioner and will be assessed on the basis of work required to recommission the accommodation.
2.3.6. The following are excluded in the count of built bed capacity –
2.3.6.1. Additional short term beds that have been placed in any type of accommodation over and above designed bed capacity, e.g. temporary bunk beds, mattresses and trundles and
2.3.6.2. special purpose accommodation where a general purpose bed is reserved for a prisoner to return to on completion of the order, e.g. Detention Units, Health Centre Units, Safety Units, Crisis Support Units and Close Supervision and Support Units.
2.3.7. Built bed capacity for low security facilities is based on the number of designated bed places in shared cells or dormitories.
2.3.8. The current built bed capacity for high and low security facilities is shown in appendix – Prisoner accommodation capacity counts for corrective services facilities.
2.4. Centres to be included in counts
2.4.1. The following are included in the calculation of prisoner accommodation capacity counts:
2.4.1.1 All corrective services facilities, except for the Princess Alexandra Hospital Secure Unit (PA Secure Unit); and
2.4.1.2 All work camps.
Adam Black
Deputy Commissioner, Organisational Capability
Authority
- ~ Corrective Services Act 2006, s. 265
Appendices and Forms
- ~ Prisoner accommodation capacity counts for corrective services facilities
Procedures
- Not applicable
Policies
- Not applicable
Ownership: Strategic Futures Command
Version History
Version 4 – 1 July 2024