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Transfers to the Wilfred Lopes Centre


There are three situations where you may be transferred to the Wilfred Lopes Centre ie:

1. If you are a prisoner or detainee and you transfer voluntarily.

2. If you are a prisoner or detainee and the Director of Corrective Services directs that you be removed to the Wilfred Lopes Centre under Section 36A of the Corrections Act 1997.

3. If you are a youth and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services directs that you be removed from a detention centre to the Wilfred Lopes Centre under Section 134A of the Youth Justice Act 1997.

In each of these situations, the Forensic Tribunal has a role in reviewing certain decisions made in relation to you.

If you are a prisoner detained at Wilfred Lopes and wish to return to the prison

At any time whilst detained at the Wilfred Lopes Centre, you may make a written request to the Chief Forensic Psychiatrist that you be returned to the custody of the Director of Corrective Services, or the Secretary (Youth Justice), as relevant.

On receipt of the written request, the Chief Forensic Psychiatrist is to ensure that you are assessed by an approved medical practitioner to determine whether it is suitable for you to return to custody. 

After considering the medical practitioners assessment, the Chief Forensic Psychiatrist may determine that it is either appropriate or not appropriate to return you to custody.

If the Chief Forensic Psychiatrist determines that it would not be appropriate to return you to custody, you have seven (7) days to apply to the Forensic Tribunal for a review of the determination.  Upon receipt of the application, the Forensic Tribunal will review the determination of the Chief Forensic Psychiatrist, and may either agree that you remain at the Wilfred Lopes Centre or determine that you should be returned to prison.  The application must be heard and determined by the Forensic Tribunal within 14 days.

If the determination is confirmed, you will remain in the Wilfred Lopes Centre.  If the determination is revoked, you will normally be returned  to custody within 48 hours.