Information for Visitors

Visiting Times (Go to the table of Correctional Centres and click on the Centre you want to visit)
Services for children and families of offenders
Information for Legal Practitioners
Visiting a Correctional Centre Booklet

Services for children and families of offenders

When someone commits a crime and is sentenced to a custodial or community-based sentence, there can be negative consequences for the family and others who have a close relationship with this person. Children of offenders in particular can be the invisible victims of crime. The consequences for children and their communities can be severe.

For many families, visiting a correctional centre is a regular weekend activity that may require long periods of travel. It is important that families are not penalised for the crimes of one of their members.

It is also an established fact that helping offenders maintain relationships with families and friends, can contribute to their successful integration into community life. Working with families of offenders has to occur in a supportive rather than an intrusive manner. Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) is committed to balancing support for family relationships with the need for the safety, welfare and well-being of children and young people, other family members and the community at large.

CSNSW provides a number of services for families of offenders in custody to facilitate contact and manage family crises as well as strengthen and maintain relationships. Visits facilities, parenting and other family-related programs are available to support contact between offenders and their families. Travel and Accommodation Assistance may be available to families who face hardship in meeting the costs of travel and accommodation when visiting correctional centres a long distance away from their home.

The CSNSW Families of Offenders Strategic Framework was developed within the broad strategic objectives of Corrective Services NSW Corporate Plan and the NSW Government’s priorities of reduced re-offending and crime prevention.

The Children and Families of Offenders Steering Committee (CFOSC) was established to implement the Strategic Framework. Under its terms of reference, the CFOSC aims to achieve better outcomes for children and families of offenders by addressing in a timely manner issues and concerns that have been raised by staff, families, and friends. To do this effectively, the CFOSC draws support from all sections of Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) which are directly involved in service delivery to visitors in correctional centres.

The CFOSC meets every two months and is chaired by the Assistant Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner and Human Resources (ACOoC&HR) with participants from SHINE for Kids and the Community Restorative Centre. Two Official Visitors are also included in the Committee.

Children and Families of Offenders Steering Committee-related documents

Families of Offenders Steering Committee Terms of Reference
Families of Offenders Strategic Framework 2010
Commissioner's Memorandum (Strategic Framework)
Brochure: Children of Parents in Custody - facts and figures regarding children of inmates and visits by children to inmates

Visitors survey

Throughout April 2011, Corrective Services NSW surveyed visitors to inmates in NSW correctional centres. The results of the survey are strictly confidential and will not be used to identify individuals. The survey results are to assist in improved service delivery to families and children of offenders.

General visitor information

Before visiting a family member or friend in any of the NSW correctional centres you should:

Contact the centre to confirm visiting hours and give yourself enough time to get there;
Find out whether you need to book a visit; please refer to individual correctional centre pages;
Make sure you have the correct identification with you when you arrive for a visit. (View visitor identification requirements )
Find out which items are prohibited from being taken into correctional complexes (including the car park) or into a correctional centre; (Penalties may apply if these items are found in your possession.)
Find out what you are permitted to take into a centre, especially if you are visiting with children;
Have the necessary documentation with you if you need to take personal medication during your visit to a correctional centre because all medication must be declared at the front desk;
Make sure you are dressed appropriately for your visit; please avoid see-through and other revealing clothing, and please do not wear anything that obscures your face.

The Visiting a Correctional Centre booklet explains the rules and requirements in more detail.

Information is also available in the following publications:

Visiting a Correctional Centre is available not only in English but also in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese;
The Families Handbook is a joint initiative of Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and the Community Restorative Centre (CRC);
Information produced by SHINE for Kids and the Community Restorative Centre which is relevant to children and families of offenders in general and to visitors to correctional centres in particular.

If you wish to provide feedback about any of the information provided, please go to the Contact Us page.

Visits by Health Professionals

Under certain circumstances, inmates may be visited by a medical specialist of their own choice rather than by those contracted to Justice Health (JH). In such cases, the visiting professional should contact Justice Health in the first instance.