57986 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections

57986 (2025). Dr Tracey McLellan to the Minister of Corrections: On what date did Corrections first commence a review of the Shared Accommodation Cell Risk Assessment (SACRA) process, and what is the current expected completion date for that review?

Hon Mark Mitchell: Corrections takes its duty to safely manage people in prison extremely seriously and acknowledges the significant impact of deaths that have occurred in double-bunked cells at Mt Eden Corrections Facility. As with all significant events, I am advised that a number of reviews and investigations are currently underway to ensure Corrections’ processes are robust and as safe as possible. This includes a review of the Shared Accommodation Cell Risk Assessment (SACRA) process, which was commissioned on 1 August 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026. While the SACRA review is underway, I am further advised that Corrections is implementing a number of immediate changes to improve the SACRA processes across the prison network, including improvements to the current SACRA guidance available to staff in the Prison Operations Manual. Corrections will also be issuing an instruction to all prison staff on changes to the application of the SACRA by the end of January 2026. These changes will be in place until the completion of the SACRA review in June 2026. I am also advised that Corrections has instructed all prison sites to review all SACRA assessments within 24 hours of completion to check whether any further or outstanding information has been received following the late arrival of people from courts when information can sometimes be limited. This is also my response to WPQ 58666 (2025).