Prison offences
Prison offences are breaches of the Corrections Act 1986 (Vic) and Corrections Regulations 2019 (Vic). If you are found guilty of a prison offence there can be very serious consequences, like being put in the slot, loss of privileges and changes to your security classification.
Some examples of prison offences can be found in regulation 65 of the Corrections Regulations 2019 (Vic). They are:
- Assaulting or threatening someone
- Acting in a disruptive, abusive, offensive, racist, discriminatory or indecent manner (this includes saying or doing something)
- Gambling
- Trafficking things into prison that you aren’t allowed to
- Having something in your possession that is not allowed
- Drinking alcohol
- Using drugs (you can use drugs that you receive from your doctor, if you use them the way your doctor told you to)
- Smoking or using tobacco products (for example, cigarettes)
- Using a phone to threaten someone
- Using a phone to speak to someone you’re not allowed to speak to
- Using a communication device (for example, a radio) that you’re not allowed to
- Communicating (or getting someone else to communicate) something that is dangerous or hurtful
- Using a computer for something that is not allowed
- Using the internet or getting someone to use it for you (unless that person is your lawyer or someone else the prison allows)
- Sending a letter or parcel that:
- threatens the security of the prison; or
- is threatening in another way; or
- might be used for something illegal; or
- is offensive or abusive.
- Receiving a letter or parcel if you know that it:
- threatens the security of the prison; or
- is threatening in another way; or
- might be used for something illegal; or
- is offensive or abusive.
- Damaging or threatening to damage prison property
- Going to or leaving a place you’re not allowed to be
- Acting carelessly during prison work
- Disobeying a lawful order from a prison officer
- Failing to comply with a drug or alcohol test
- Tampering with a drug or alcohol test
- Giving, receiving, selling, or buying the property of a person in prison (including yours) without permission from the Governor of the prison
- Damaging another person’s property
- Acting in a way that is contrary to (undermines) the security or good order of the prison or the safety of any other person in prison
- Committing family violence (or getting someone else to do it for you)
- Breaching a family violence intervention order, final order, interim order, or safety notice
Important: you can be charged with a prison offence if you attempt to do any of these things.
If a prison officer accuses you of committing a prison offence, it will start a disciplinary process. For more information on the disciplinary process, use the link on the left side of this page.