THE coronavirus pandemic is allowing inmates across the Central West to get a glimpse into life outside jail that they've never had before.
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In the early days of the virus crisis restrictions were imposed to prevent COVID-19 from entering the state's prisons with visits to all NSW jails suspended on March 16.
Since then, however, Corrective Services NSW has facilitated more than 31,500 video visits between inmates and their families.
"There have been many positive stories. One inmate was able to see his dog for the first time in years while another inmate was able to see his sister's new house," Lithgow Governor Faith Slatcher said.
In the three months since face-to-face visits were suspended there have been more than 4700 video visits conducted in the Central West.
More than 1600 video calls have been facilitated at Bathurst, 1112 at Lithgow, 1054 at Wellington, 668 at Kirkconnell and 279 at Oberon correctional centres.
One inmate was able to see his dog for the first time in years while another inmate was able to see his sister's new house.
- Lithgow Governor Faith Slatcher
Bathurst Governor Mark Kennedy said the video visits have been important for inmates to maintain family links.
"Some offenders with families overseas have been able to talk to and see their loved ones for the first time while in custody, thanks to this technology," he said.
"The video calls have given inmates a window of what their children, partners, siblings or parents might be doing on the outside.
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"Maintaining that contact, especially at this challenging time, can assist with their rehabilitation and also lessen their chances of re-offending."
A Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) spokeswoman said prison staff had worked hard to utilise existing audio-visual studios normally used for court appearances, as well as tablet technology and mobile-signal boosters for prisons in remote areas.
Governor Slatcher said it was a great effort by staff to be trained in the technology and security arrangements for the video visits trial, which commenced on April 11.
"Our staff were already well-trained in using the AVL studios but after a day's worth of training for each staff member, they have been able to expand their capabilities into using tablet technology," he said.
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CSNSW Commissioner Peter Severin said there were around 4500 face-to-face visits each week across the state's 38 prisons prior to the visit restrictions.
"We are close to matching the number of weekly face-to-face visits with video calls," he said.
"Corrections staff have shown great professionalism in adapting to the rapidly evolving situation and their work on the frontline should be acknowledged and applauded."
The CSNSW spokeswoman said when safe to do so face-to-face visits will be reinstated.
"CSNSW is exploring the option of continuing to use the AVL technology for family visits, so that we can minimise the number of people entering our facilities," she said.
As of June 9, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within CSNSW staff or inmates at any NSW correctional facility.
"We have long-standing safety practices in place to prevent and control infectious and communicable diseases in our prisons and other facilities," the spokeswoman said.
"We continue to follow the expert advice from NSW Health and are working closely with Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network."