|
|
Duties and powers of visiting committees.
|
3.—(1) Every visiting committee appointed under this Act shall conform to and observe such of the rules made by the Minister under this Act as shall apply to them, and, subject to such rules, it shall be the duty of every such visiting committee—
|
|
| |
(a) from time to time and at frequent intervals to visit the prison in respect of which they are appointed and there to hear any complaints which may be made to them by any prisoner confined in such prison and, if so requested by the prisoner, to hear such complaint in private; and
|
|
| |
(b) to report to the Minister any abuses observed or found by them in such prison; and
|
|
| |
(c) to report to the Minister any repairs to such prison which may appear to them to be urgently needed; and
|
|
| |
(d) to report to the Minister on any matter relating to such prison on which the committee shall think it expedient or shall have been requested by the Minister so to report.
|
|
| |
(2) Every such visiting committee and every member thereof shall be entitled at all times to visit either collectively or individually the prison in respect of which they are appointed and shall at all times have free access either collectively or individually to every part of such prison.
|
|
| |
(3) Every such visiting committee may, subject to and in accordance with rules made by the Minister under this Act, do all or any of the following things in relation to prisoners confined in the prison in respect of which they are appointed, that is to say:—
|
|
| |
(a) grant special privileges to any prisoner as a reward for good conduct or on account of ill-health or for other sufficient cause;
|
|
| |
(b) award special punishment to any prisoner guilty of a breach of prison discipline;
|
|
| |
(c) hold inquiries on oath into charges against prisoners of breach of prison discipline.
|
|
| |
(4) Every report made by a visiting committee to the Minister shall be open to inspection, without charge, at any reasonable time, by any person who makes application to the Minister for that purpose.
|
