CSNSW and MTC-Broadspectrum recognise the importance of maintaining a connection between people in custody and their loved ones, and therefore are piloting video visits.

How can I request a video visit with an offender in custody?

Family and friends are asked to call the relevant correctional centre where the inmate is located to make a request to schedule a video visit l. The Centre staff will ask you for your name, VIN and the MIN of the inmate you wish to contact. You will also be asked to provide you email address and mobile phone number so that you can receive notifications about your video visit.

If you are not sure which correctional centre the inmate is located in, first call Sentence Administration on (02) 8346 1000 between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday - Friday.

What are the rules for having a video visit with an offender in custody?

There are a number of rules that must be followed in order to have a video visit with an inmate. If the family member, friend or inmate breaches any of these rules the video visit may be terminated.

• To confirm your identity, staff may require the attendee to remove any face covering. Refer to COPP section 10.1 Visits to inmates by family and friends at subsection [2.6] Removal of face-covering.
• To confirm your identity, staff will ask each adult attendee booked and on screen to show to the camera a valid form of photographic ID as listed in COPP section 10.1 Visits to inmates by family and friends at subsection [2.1] Initial identification requirements.
• All video visits are subject to monitoring by MTC-Broadspectrum staff.
• Only people approved on the original visit booking request can appear on screen or communicate with the inmate. If anyone else comes onto the video visit, the video visit will be cancelled by staff.
• No one on the video visit is allowed to use another device (e.g., a device not used to connect to the video visit) to display or show anything to the inmate or to connect the inmate via phone or other method to a person not listed on the booking.
• Once the video visit has started, no one else can connect via a separate device.
• Everyone must maintain a minimum standard of dress. No nudity or partial nudity.
• Everyone must maintain an acceptable standard of behaviour. Aggressive, obscene or sexual behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Once seated, the inmate must not touch the AVL equipment or tablet for any reason. Failure to comply will result in the video visit being terminated.
• Staff may terminate the video visit if any unacceptable behaviour occurs, including any of the above or any other behaviour that is not acceptable.

How can I check that my video visit has been scheduled?

Once you have called the correctional centre to request a video visit, they will confirm whether or not your request has been approved. If approved, you will receive an email from MTC-Broadspectrum or JUST Connect, which will confirm the details of the video visit, including who it is with (the inmate), when it will be held, the visitors that are approved to attend the video visit, and the number or link that you will use to attend the video visit. See below for how to use this number or link.

What software will I use to make the video call from home?

The email that you receive from MTC-Broadspectrum or JUST Connect will provide you with either a 10 digit number or a link. If you are provided with a 10 digit number, please refer to the Zoom User Guide for Family and Friends.pdf as provided. If you are provided with a link, please refer to the relevant the Jabber Guest Guide for Family and Friends.pdf as provided.

Can I cancel my video visit?

You can cancel your visit. To do so, call the correctional centre and request that the video visit be cancelled.

Why did I need to provide a mobile number?

The day of your video visit you will receive a SMS reminder from JUST Connect.

Visiting hours are:

• Main Centre: Monday, and Wednesday to Sunday (no visits on Tuesdays). There are morning and afternoon visits. Please contact the Visits line for available times based on the area of the inmate your are visiting.
• Area 4: Saturday and Sunday, 08:30–10:00, 12:30 and 13:45.

You can book a visit by calling the Visits line on (02) 8676 7999, between 8:15am and 3:45pm, Monday to Friday. The Visits line is closed on public holidays.

The maximum time for each visit is 1 hour. You are permitted two visits per week, which can be 1 during the week and 1 over the weekend, or 2 during the week. You are not able to have two visits over a single weekend (excluding in Area 4). This allows each inmate fair opportunity to see their family and friends.

Up to 4 adult visitors and 4 children are allowed to visit at any one time. An exception may be made if the inmate has more than 4 children, in which case all the children may be permitted to visit at the same time. However, this may result in a reduction in the number of adult visitors allowed to accompany the children during this visit.

Yes, children can visit and are encouraged to do so. Visitors under the age of 18 must be supervised by a responsible adult.

MTC-Broadspectrum partners with SHINE for Kids to provide positive experiences for families during visits. SHINE for Kids staff are qualified and accredited to supervise children. There is a children’s play area inside the visits centre, and a creche located outside of the Centre.

Don't worry. Although it can be stressful to visit a correctional facility the first time, ensuring that everyone has positive, safe and secure visits is our priority because we know that the positive support of family and friends is critical to an inmate’s wellbeing. It also helps inmates make positive changes in their lives, so they don’t end up back in prison.

Arrive at the Centre 20 minutes prior to your scheduled visit commencement time.

You will need this time to complete security and identity checks prior to entering the visit area.

Bring identification.

If your fingerprint and photographic image are already stored within the biometric identification (BID) system, you do not need to present any additional identification (ID). However, it is always a good idea to bring ID as a back-up.

If you have visited the Centre before and you have a visitor identification number (VIN), you can access the Centre by presenting one primary or one secondary form of ID (see the lists below).

If you have not visited the Centre before, you can present one primary form of ID from this list:

• A current photo driver licence issued by any State or Territory of Australia
• A Proof of Age card available from NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)
• A current passport or one that has expired within two years
• Any current photo identification issued by a Government Department or Authority.

If you do not have a primary form of ID, you will need to present three secondary forms of IDs from this list:

• Original or extract of a birth certificate
• Electoral roll enrolment card or other evidence of enrolment
• Public utility record issued within six months of the date of intended visit e.g. a telephone, gas or electricity bill, water rates, council rates or land valuation notice
• Current vehicle or boat registration papers
• Marriage certificate
• Australian naturalisation or citizenship document or immigration papers issued by the Commonwealth
• Current entitlement card issued by an Australian Federal or State Government Department or Authority
• Credit or debit card with the holder’s signature.

Do not try to bring in any contraband or prohibited items.

You will not be allowed to enter the Centre with any contraband or prohibited items. Attempts to bring in contraband or prohibited items will result in you being delayed and you may be charged with a criminal offence.

Prohibited items include things such as guns, knives, alcohol and syringes. These must not be brought to a correctional centre, including the visitor car park. Visitors must leave their cigarettes and mobile phones in secure lockers provided at the Centre.

Adhere to the dress code.

We consistently apply a strict dress code. Regardless of which correctional officer is on duty and conducting the security screening, the below rules will be applied. Because the rules are clear, you will always know what to expect.

The dress code is:

• No see-through clothing
• No singlets, tank tops or crop tops
• No inappropriate language or graphics on any piece of clothing or item worn or carried into the Centre
• No logos or symbols associated with drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol or gangs
• No ripped or torn items
• No caps or hoodies
• For both men and women, skirts and shorts must be at least long enough to reach the top of the knee
• Footwear must be enclosed
• No steel capped boots
• No piercings or jewellery other than a set of studs or sleeper earrings and plain wedding band or engagement ring (no rings with jewels or stones)
• No watches, activity trackers or smart watches
• No sunglasses
• Zimmer frames, wheelchairs, walking sticks and crutches are permitted access, but they will be subjected to search
• Religious head coverings are permitted. However, you may be asked to remove the head covering for identification purposes. This will be performed in the most culturally respectful, sensitive and appropriate way possible.

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) has made depositing money into inmate accounts easier. You can use BPAY or by making a deposit at a post office.

Deposits are not accepted at any correctional centre.

Fast facts

• BPAY deposits are free.
• Australia Post charges a fee for every deposit. Check with Australia Post about the fee.
• The maximum amount which can be deposited per transaction is $100.
• The maximum an inmate can receive is $600 per month. If an inmate receives more than the maximum, the money will be given to the inmate when he is released from custody, or it can be returned electronically to the person who made the deposit. CSNSW will require the bank account details of the person who made the deposit.
• Money will reach the inmate's account about 2 working days after it is deposited.

To make a deposit, you will need:

• Your Visitor Index Number (VIN) which is allocated the first time you visit an inmate in a correctional centre.
• A CSNSW Depositor Reference Report which contains a personalised Customer Reference Number (CRN) (provided only to those over 18) for BPAY and for Australia Post and the BPAY biller code for CSNSW. You will have a different CRN for each inmate account you wish to deposit money into. The CSNSW Depositor Reference Report can be:
• Obtained by families and friends at the correctional centre when visiting an inmate
• Sent electronically by CSNSW staff to an email address
• Posted by CSNSW staff to the home address.

Yes. Suggestion boxes are located in the reception area of the visits centre. You can send complaints to OfficialEnquiries.Parklea@mtcbroadspectrum.com.

You can send letters. An inmate can also receive up to 50, 100mm x 150mm non-laminated photos. Send mail addressed as follows:

Attn: Include inmate first name, surname, and MIN

Parklea Correctional Centre

PO Box 6148

Blacktown DC, NSW 2148

If you require tracking, please send your mail via registered post.

He will have been assessed by our medical team when he arrived at the Centre, and they will be looking out for his health. If an inmate has any health-related concerns, he should make an appointment to see the on-site health professionals.

If you have a concern that he may be at risk of injury or self-harm, please call the Centre at 02 9308 8221.

You can call the Centre on 02 9678 4888 and leave a message to ask the inmate to call you relating to a family matter.

To attend a funeral, the inmate needs to raise a request. Then, the death must be confirmed with the Police or via a letter from the funeral home. If you already have a confirmation that you want to send, you can email it to OfficialEnquiries@mtcbroadspectrum.com, but the inmate must still raise a request to attend the funeral. It may take 1 to 2 weeks to obtain approval for the inmate to attend the funeral, because the request must be approved by Corrective Services NSW and the NSW Police.