Corrective Services NSW prisoner transport review finds systemic failings as protocols changed, officers disciplined

An internal review of how the state’s prisoners are trucked to jails and courts has found significant and systemic failures which placed vulnerable inmates in harm’s way and threatened to prevent the proper administration of justice.

A prison van, also called a court escort vehicle, similar to that which carried Jason Paul Hawkins. Picture: Supplied.

An internal review of how the state’s prisoners are transported between jails and court appearances has found systemic failures in staff following specific non-association orders protecting vulnerable inmates from those who may wish to cause them harm.

The review, ordered after this masthead revealed how a now-convicted murderer was able to be trucked numerous times in the same van as a prisoner despite specific orders he be kept away from him, has also seen an unknown number of prison officers disciplined and new procedures introduced to further prevent potential violence against inmates.

Jason Paul Hawkins, who is serving a maximum 32-year prison term after being found guilty of the assassination of Stockton grandmother Stacey Klimovitch, admitted earlier this month to two counts of stalking and intimidating with the intent to cause a person to fear physical or mental harm.

Hawkins had threatened the fellow prisoner during some of the six occasions the pair had travelled in the same prison van despite there being specific non-association orders preventing Hawkins from being near the inmate.

On one occasion, Hawkins and the inmate were even placed in the same “pod” within the prison van together, facing each other with their knees almost touching.

A comprehensive internal review of the transporting of inmates in prison vans has been undertaken.

Although the department claims the Hawkins incidents were isolated, The Daily Telegraph can reveal the department does not have the ability to perform an historical audit on prisoner transfers to identify how often non-association orders were breached and compromised.

In a statement prepared after this masthead asked specific questions about the review, which began last year after the Hawkins incidents, a Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman confirmed the changes.

Inside one of the pods of a prison van, also called a court escort vehicle, similar to that which carried Jason Paul Hawkins and another inmate.

“A review of court escort procedures conducted by Corrective Services NSW has revealed that a failure of court escort security and correctional centre staff to check inmate ‘non-association’ alerts before moving inmates resulted in the regrettable outcome of two inmates who should have been kept separate travelling together in the same truck,” the spokeswoman said.

“CSNSW recognises the gravity of this outcome and several staff have been referred to Professional Standards and Investigations (PSI) for potential disciplinary proceedings.

“ As these matters are still under review it would be inappropriate to comment further.

“Where an inmate has a listed ‘non association’ alert, staff are now trained to follow a strict procedure adhered to throughout the escort.

CSNSW is always working to improve our systems and ensure our staff follow procedures and protocols with the utmost integrity.”

Convicted murderer Jason Paul Hawkins has pleaded guilty to two counts of stalk and intimidation of a prisoner inside a prison van despite there being non-association orders in place.

Although the department would not be drawn on how the new procedures work, it is understood each prisoner’s paperwork now also includes coloured alerts relating to non-association orders.

Under the new procedure, senior staff and truck crews tick off if each prisoner is safe from inmates who they are supposed to be protected from.

Some inmates can have dozens of non-association orders on their files for reasons including but no restricted to being a high-profile inmate, being connected to gang-related violence or threats, or informing on other prisoners.