Is Mannus Correctional Complex a minimum-security periodic detention centre? Are Mannus detainees held there for breaching community service orders? Are Mannus detainees employed primarily on community projects? On Tuesday 25 August 2009, were three inmates transported from Silverwater Correctional Complex to Parramatta Correctional Centre, held there overnight and then transported to Bathurst Correctional Complex, held there overnight, and then transported, with six other inmates, almost 400 kilometres to the Mannus Correctional Complex? If so, what opportunities were provided to the inmates from Silverwater to shower or change their clothes between 25 and 27 August 2009? Did the holding cell in which the prisoners were held in Bathurst awaiting transport to Mannus contain a toilet or water tap? If not, what access to these facilities did they have? Did two of the prisoners in the holding cell inform the nurse on duty that they were on daily medication? If so, did the nurse provide that medication? If not, why not? Did one of the prisoners on daily medication complain of chest pains before being strip searched? If so, did the strip search proceed? Was the prisoner subsequently examined by any medical staff in relation to the chest pain? If not, why not? Were eight prisoners placed in the middle section of the transport vehicle? How many prisoners were in the other compartments of the transport vehicle? What water, food or toilet breaks were provided to these prisoners in the course of the six-hour trip to Mannus Correctional Complex? Did the transport vehicle stop at Cootamundra to refuel? Did the prisoners ask the transport driver for water at Cootamundra? If so, was this request granted? If not, why not? Did the prisoners also request that the air-conditioning system of the vehicle be turned on? If so, was this request granted? If not, what provision was made for fresh air to enter the prisoner compartments of the vehicle? Did the prisoner who had complained of chest pains before leaving Bathurst collapse during transportation? For how long, and how often did prisoners attempt to attract attention of the driver or people in the street concerning the condition of the prisoner in the vehicle? Did they bang on the walls of the transport vehicle, yell or call for help and assistance? How do prisoners communicate with the driver of the transit vehicle? How do Correction Services staff monitor prisoner compartments in escort vehicles when in transit? Are prisoners monitored constantly or intermittently? If intermittently, how frequently? Can the monitor be switched off by the transport officers? If so, why would this be done? Is switching the monitor off a breach of departmental guidelines? On arrival at Mannus, did the escort officers refuse to release prisoners from the van until any noise or commotion had ceased? If so, how long after arrival at Mannus was it before all prisoners were released from the transport vehicle? Where were the prisoners then placed? Did a prisoner, who was to be detained at Mannus Correctional Complex for breach of a community service order, die during the transit? If so, when did it become known by Corrective Services officers that the prisoner had died? How long did it take for an ambulance to arrive at the scene? Did the prisoner remain on the ground, covered by a sheet, until detectives from Albury arrived? What counselling or other assistance is provided to detainees who experience such incidents while in transit? Are alternative arrangements made available to such detainees if they are required to undertake further transportation? Was the family of the deceased contacted? If so, when and how were they contacted? If not, why not? What changes to practices, procedures and regulations have been implemented or will be implemented since 27 August 2009 to prevent transit deaths in custody? How many deaths of prisoners in custody have occurred in transport vehicles while in transit in each year since 2000?
Mannus Correctional Complex contains Mannus Correctional Centre, Mannus Periodic Detention Centre and the surrounding grounds. Mannus Correctional Centre is a minimum security facility. Inmates and detainees are placed in correctional centres according to their classifications and case management plans. Mannus Correctional Centre is located within Mannus State Forest, and the primary inmate employment there is forestry. However, considerable work is also undertaken in the community, including a willow removal program at Tumbarumba and a landscaping program at Khancoban. - (20) It is inappropriate for me to answer or comment until the coroner conducts an inquest. All deaths in custody are subject to a coronial inquest.