Frequently Asked Questions; Families
It may be helpful to print these FAQ's and give to families.
Do you know where your loved one is
located?
Can you visit?
Do you have a Correctional Reference
Number?
Do you know the visiting hours of the
prison?
What will happen to the prisoner's
clothing and personal belongings?
What will he/she wear in prison?
Can you drop of clothing to the prisoner?
Will I be told in advance if/when the
prisoner is transferred to a different prison?
Can you leave money for the prisoner?
Can you leave toiletries or food for the
prisoner?
Can you call the prisoner?
Can you write to the prisoner?
What should you tell the children?
Should you bring children to visit?
Can you bring food or a gift into the
visit centre?
Are prisoners eligible for Centrelink
payments?
Do you need to pay the prisoners outstanding bills/debts?
Who else should I tell?
What support services are available for my loved one while he/she is
in prison?
What support can VACRO provide?
Do you know where your loved one is located?
If not, please call the Information Enquiries Line at Corrections Victoria
on (03) 8684 6577. Information to provide; CRN (Correctional Reference Number
- if they have an existing one), full name and Date of Birth.
Can you visit? - Are you on the visitors list?
Each prisoner can nominate at least 10 people they wish to have visit
them. All approved visitors need 100 points of identification to be able
to visit. Please call the relevant prison to confirm that you are an approved
visitor. For further information on visits lists call VACRO.
Do you have a Correctional Reference Number (CRN)?
You may have a CRN if you have:
- been in prison
- been convicted of an offence
- been on a Intensive Community Order (ICO) or Community Based Order
(CBO)
Please note those with a CRN need to get the Governor’s approval to visit.
If the prisoner is moved to a different location, you will need approval
from the Governor at the new prison.
Do you know the visiting hours of the prison?
Please call the prison or Corrections Victoria (03) 8684 6600 for details.
What will happen to the prisoners clothing and personal belongings?
The prisoner’s personal items will be stored by the prison. If a prisoner
is transferred to a different location their personal items will also be
transferred.
All belongings will be returned upon release.
What will he/she wear while in prison?
Prisoners wear their own clothes while on remand. Sentenced Prisoners
are issued prison clothing. Some prisons will allow additional clothing
to be dropped off by families. Enquiries can be made at the prison or Corrections
Victoria (03) 8684 6600.
Will you be told in advance when the prisoner is transferred to a different
prison?
No, due to privacy issues you will not be told the day and time the prisoner
will be transferred. When the prisoner is at the new location, he/she can
contact you from there if you are on their phone list.
Can you drop off clothing for the prisoner?
Yes, however the type of permitted items varies between prisons. Please
call the prison or Corrections Victoria (03) 8684 6600 for more information.
Can you leave money for the prisoner?
Yes, however the amount of money you can leave for a prisoner varies
between prisons. You will also need to specify whether you are leaving money
for their phone account or for their private spending money. Please call
Corrections Victoria (03) 8684 6600 for more information.
Can you leave toiletries or food for the prisoner?
No, prisoners are required to purchase their own toiletries. Prisoners
are provided with three meals a day and are required to purchase any additional
snacks.
Can you call the prisoner?
No, however if you are on the prisoners phone list and they have money
in their phone account they can call you.
Can you write to the prisoner?
Yes, you can write unlimited letters to a prisoner. You do not have to
be on the visitors list to write him/her a letter. Please note that all
incoming and outgoing mail is screened by prison staff.
What should you tell the children?
Figuring out whether to tell the children about a parent’s imprisonment
can be a difficult decision. Each family’s situation is unique and there
may be some circumstances that make you wonder whether, or how much to tell
the children. If you would like to discuss these issues, please call
VACRO and speak to our Family Team.
Should you bring the children into the visit?
Generally, children’s visits to a parent in prison are worth encouraging.
It can help both the parents and the children deal with separation and provide
some sense of continuity. Children usually feel relief when they can see
and talk to their parent and realise that they are safe.
If you have any doubts about what to tell your kids or whether to take
them in to visit you can contact our Family Liaison Worker at the Melbourne
Assessment Prison (MAP) – (03) 9321 4173 or our Family Team at the
VACRO head office.
Can you bring food or a gift into the visit centre?
No, however some prisons visit centres have a canteen or vending machines
to purchase snacks and drinks. For more information, please call VACRO.
Are prisoners eligible for Centrelink payments?
No, Centrelink will be informed that a person is in prison and cease
any future payments. Centrelink usually writes to the prisoner within the
first two weeks of him/her being in custody.
Do you need to pay the prisoners outstanding bills/debts?
A range of loans and debts may need to be managed. Please encourage your
loved one to contact the relevant business/organisation to let them know
that he/she is in custody and unable to make any payments. It is advised
that families seek professional advice from financial counsellors and/or
legal representatives around outstanding debts and ongoing bills.
Individuals may be eligible to apply for a hardship variation if applying
to the lender. Eligibility criteria includes income radically dropped, the
situation will not right itself (i.e. imprisoned for more than 6-12months),
to protect a mortgage, or if you can make a minimal good faith payment.
If The loan/debt is in the prisoners name, a financial counsellor should
be able to apply on their behalf.
Contact the Financial Consumer Rights Council (03) 9663 2000 or seek
advice from your Community Legal Centre
www.communitylaw.org.au has
a full listing.
Free legal clinics are held at VACRO every Thursday afternoon through
PILCH. For more information or to make an appointment please call VACRO.
Who else should I tell?
Consider inform relevant organisations of your change of circumstances:
Centrelink: You may now be eligible for increased
or different payments. If you are caring for the children of
a prisoner, these include Family Tax Benefit A, Family Tax Benefit B, Child
Care Benefit, Parenting Payment, and the Double Orphan Pension. Contact:
13 2850
Office of Housing (OoH): Your rent may be reduced
if you were sharing with your relative. Or if they had their own
property, or encourage them to contact OoH
to ask about the possibility of maintaining the property on reduced rent
during their incarceration. 1300 650 172
Tenants Union: Rental contracts may need to be broken. Contact
the Tenants Union for advice 9416 2577
Utility Companies:
Families will
need to liaise with their loved one to cancel any utilities as this can
only be done by the prisoner (if it is in their name).
Child Support Agency:
To reduce the repayments to a minimum. Call 131 272
Employers:
Families may need to inform the employer that their
loved one can't come to work. They don't need to tell the employer why but
they may need to find out about any entitlements that should be paid out
if their loved on has to resign and if they can get a reference or separation
certificate.
What support services are available for my loved one while he/she is
in prison?
All prisoners have access to clinical support services such as social
workers, psychologists, medical staff and chaplaincy services. Prisoners
must complete a referral form to access these services. If you have any
serious concerns about the prisoner’s wellbeing, please contact prison staff
or the Prison Chaplain via the prison.
I am not coping very well, is there someone that I can talk to
Yes, VACRO has a Family counsellor, and a Children's counsellor. The service is free. Please call the VACRO
Family Support Team for more information.
I feel so alone and isolated, there must be other people in my situation?
Yes, there is. VACRO has a Family Support Group held on the first Thursday
of every month at Head Office from 10.30 – 12.30. For further information please contact the VACRO.
Can VACRO assist financially?
No, VACRO can not provide any financial assistance. However VACRO staff
are happy to assist families with referrals to community agencies who provide
material aid or financial counselling. Please call VACRO for further information.
Can VACRO assist with travel costs to visit the prison?
Yes, VACRO has a Family Travel Assistance program, where assistance can
be given for a maximum of three V/line rail tickets for country travel.
To be eligible for the assistance, you will need to be on the prisoner’s
visitors list. VACRO also has an Aboriginal Family Travel program. For more
information, please contact VACRO.
Can VACRO assist with accommodation whilst visiting the prison?
Yes, VACRO has “Mulwilla House” a unit in Beechworth that we rent to
families visiting prisoners at Beechworth Correctional Centre.
VACRO and the Sisters of Charity also have” Blake Cottage”, a home in
Castlemaine that families can book and stay when visiting prisoners at Tarrengower
and Loddon Prisons. Please call VACRO or further information and bookings.
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