Maximum security unit review consultation

Have you spent time in a Maximum Security Unit in Queensland?

We are the Detention Services Inspection Unit. We are a team of people who look at what is happening in prisons. We want to make prisons better. 

We are independent. This means we do not work for the prison. Prisons can’t tell us what to do.

We are looking at Maximum Security Units (MSUs) in Queensland and would like to hear from you. Your views are important for our work.  

You can write to us and tell us what it is like in the MSU.

We also have some questions to help you tell us your views. You do not have to answer all the questions. Please send us your views even if you only answer some questions. 

We would like you to tell us about:

1. Making fair decisions

We would like to know:

• What did staff tell you about why you were placed in the MSU?
• If you were in the MSU for more than 6 months, how did staff explain the reasons to keep you there?
  
  

2. Information and help given to prisoners

We will look at the information given to prisoners in the MSU to help them understand decisions or make a complaint.

We would like to know:

• Who helped you to understand decisions that were made about you? How helpful were they?
• What happened when staff reviewed (looked at again) the reasons you were placed in the MSU?
• What were you told about how to make a complaint?
• What help were you given to speak to your lawyer?
• If you met with the Official Visitor, how helpful were they?
• What else could the prison have done to help you understand decisions made about you? 

3. Daily life in the MSU

We will look at daily life in the MSU. This includes how prisoners in the MSU spend their time, what the conditions are like and how they keep in touch with family.

We would like to know:

• What was a normal day like for you?
• What was your cell like? What were you allowed to have in your cell?
• How did you wash your bedding and clothes?
• How were you given your meals? What was the food like? 
• How often did you go to the exercise yard? What did you do there?
• What courses or programs could you do?
• How often did you see a doctor or a nurse? How helpful were they?
• How did you contact your family?
• What contact did you have with other prisoners?
• What was your relationship with staff like? How often did they speak to you?
• How did staff help you with your spiritual or cultural needs?
• How safe did you feel in the unit?
• How did staff manage prisoners when they got angry or upset?
• Did staff use force (their hands or weapons) on you while you were in the unit? If yes, what happened?
• When did staff use handcuffs? How did staff treat you when using handcuffs?

4. How prisoners progress in the MSU

We will look at how prisoners leave the MSU and how staff help them to change their behaviour. 

We would like to know:

• What did you have to do to progress in the MSU?
• How did staff help you to progress out of the MSU?
• If you moved out of the MSU to another part of the prison, what was this change like for you?
• What else do you think staff could do to help prisoners in the MSU progress?

5. Staff and how MSUs work

We will look at how staff treat prisoners in the MSU and how different MSUs work. 

We would like to know:

• How often does the General Manager visit the unit?
• How often does the MSU Manager or supervisor visit you in the MSU?
• If you have spent time in more than one MSU, how are they different? How are they the same?

Consultation closes on Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm.