Prison
On this page:
Am I going to jail?
You may find yourself in jail (including a police watch house) if one of these things happens:
- you are arrested and charged with a criminal offence and the police do not give you watch house bail before you go to court the first time
- you have been to court but you put off your matter so you are on remand, and the court does not give you bail
- you have been convicted but you are still waiting to be sentenced and the court does not give you bail
- you are serving a sentence
- if you are not an adult but you have been convicted of a criminal offence you may be sent somewhere which is like a jail
How long will I have to spend in jail?
- If you are on remand, or arrested and not given bail, you will stay in jail until your next court date and then you can apply for bail. Talk to your lawyer about this.
- If you have been convicted and the court says you will be punished by going to jail (a jail sentence), the court will say how long you are to stay in jail. But you may not end up staying in jail for the whole time the court says. You can ask to talk to the Prisoners' Legal Service about how your sentence is calculated and parole and early release.
I'm in jail, do I have any rights?
Yes you do:
- To talk to a lawyer. You can ask to go on the list to get advice from a Legal Aid Queensland lawyer. If you already have a lawyer representing you, that lawyer can arrange to see you, to write to you and for you to telephone him/her.
- Centrelink payments. Some types of Centrelink payments continue if you are on remand. You will need to check with Centrelink.
- Visitors (non-lawyers). You can have visits of at least one hour each week and perhaps other special visits. But not everyone can visit you. Someone with a criminal conviction may not be allowed. Visitors may be searched, and cannot bring in some things like cigarettes and alcohol. Each jail has its own rules.
- Letters and parcels. You can be sent these but the jail can read the letters and open the parcels and the jail may not let you have them if the jail thinks they are not suitable.
- Telephone calls. You can pay to make calls to some people but the jail records calls and can listen in. You will usually have to get permission to put a person on your call list. People are not allowed to ring you unless there is a family crisis. You may also have access to call special numbers for free like Prisoners' Legal Service, Legal Aid Queensland and the Ombudsman. The jail does not listen to these special calls.
- Leave. You may be allowed to leave the jail for a time to work, to study, to see a doctor or dentist or for other compassionate reasons.
- Complaints. You can complain in writing or see the official visitor.
- Legal proceedings. You can sue for damages if you are serving less than three years in jail (if it is more than three years then you need the Public Trustee to agree).
- Medical care. You can apply to see private doctors, but you must pay for this yourself.
- Infant children. If you are female you may be able to keep your baby with you. You will need to apply to the jail.
- Vote. If you are in prison, you can stay on the roll or apply to enrol (with some exceptions). Prisoners serving short sentences will be able to vote. Prisoners serving a sentence of three years or more cannot vote.
- Transfer. You can apply to transfer to another jail, including interstate.