Office of Corrections

Full description

Establishment

The Office of Corrections was established 16 August 1983 to provide an integrated system of community-based and custodial correctional services for convicted and unconvicted adult offenders. The establishment of the Office was a response to reports commissioned shortly after the election of the Cain Government from Mr J.D. Henderson, a US prison consultant, and Commander P.H. Bennett of the Victoria Police. These reports concluded that Victoria's prison system was long overdue for redevelopment.

The establishment and responsibilities of the Office and Director-General of Corrections were initially defined when the Community Welfare Services (Director General of Corrections) Act 1983 (No.9966) came into operation on 22 November 1983. Full operational responsibility was assumed on 1 February 1984, when the Office took responsibility for the delivery of all community-based correctional programs. These legislative arrangements were later redefined and consolidated by the Corrections Act 1986 (No. 117/1986).

The Director-General of Corrections initially reported to the Minister of Community Welfare Services. In 1985, responsibility for the Office was transferred to the Attorney-General's portfolio, and then to the Minister for Corrections from 1987.

Functions

The Office consolidated two functions previously exercised by the Department of Community Welfare Services (VA 613): the administration of the State's prisons and attendance centres, and the delivery of a community-based corrections program.

The operation of prisons, including the provision of prisoner support and welfare services, had been the responsibility of the Correctional Services Division of the Department. The provision of community-based corrections, including probation, parole and community service orders, had been the responsibility of the Correctional Field Services Unit, which had formed part Regional Services Division within the Department. Responsibility for correctional services for juvenile offenders remained with the Department.

Structure

The office was comprised of four divisions.

The Prisons Division
This division was responsible for the management of Victoria's prisons, prisoner classification, and delivery of prison programs, including prisoner support services. Responsibility for all prison manufacturing and farming industries was vested in the Victorian Prison Industries Commission (VA 5734), which was established in 1984.

The Community Based Corrections Division
This division was responsible for the operation of all non-custodial programs; that is, the administration of all punishments that did not involve imprisonment, such as community service orders and the rehabilitation of persons released from prison through parole or pre-release orders. The work of this division was largely carried out in Attendance/Correction Centres across the State, which also served as the Office's regional offices. The administration of parole and pre-release orders was undertaken in close co-operation with the Adult Parole Board (VA 1087), which operated as an independent agency.

Operational Divisions
The remaining two Divisions supported the work of Prisons Division and the Community Based Corrections Division. The Strategic Services Division consisted of specialist units responsible for planning and review, building development, information systems, policy and program development, research, legislative development and public relations. The Management Services Division provided the Office with the necessary administrative, training, financial, management and other support services. The Strategic Services Division was incorporated into the Management Services Division in 1986.

Abolishment

Following a review of the administration of the corrections system, the Office was effectively abolished by 1993, and its functions were absorbed into the Correctional Services Division of the Department of Justice (VA 3085). New administrative arrangements were formalised in 1996, when the functions and responsibilities of the Office were transferred to the Secretary of the Department under Corrections (Amendment) Act 1996 (No. 45/1996). The Department then established CORE—the Public Correctional Enterprise (VA 4367) to manage and operate public correctional facilities and services.