Regulation 4

inspect, or direct the inspection of, every prison annually;

ensure that the following are complied with:

the Act;

these Regulations;

the Prisons (Prison Officers Reward Fund) Regulations (Rg 3);

the Prisons (Lock‑ups in Specified Court Houses) Regulations 2011 (G.N. No. S 595/2011);

the Prisons (Advisory Committees) Regulations 2014 (G.N. No. S 448/2014);

the Prison Standing Orders; and

submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Minister as early as possible in each year, a report on the custody and rehabilitation of prisoners for the preceding year, giving statistics in any form that may be required.Referral to Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee4.—

If a Superintendent of a prison has —

ordered a prisoner to undergo corporal punishment under section 71(1)(a) of the Act; and

notified the Commissioner under section 71(2) of the Act of the facts of the case and the punishment imposed,the Commissioner must refer the case to an Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee appointed under regulation 25 in respect of the prison for its opinion on whether the punishment imposed on the prisoner is excessive.

The Commissioner must consider the opinion of the Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee in making a decision under section 71(3) of the Act.Division 2 — SuperintendentGeneral duties of Superintendent5.—

Without limiting section 24 of the Act or any other duties of the Superintendent in these Regulations, the Superintendent of a prison must —

ensure that the prison is administered in accordance with the Act, these Regulations and the Prison Standing Orders;

ensure that each prison staff complies with all written laws and the Prison Standing Orders, relating to a prisoner or the prison;

ensure that the prison is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition;

maintain —

the safety, security and good order of the prison; and

the safety, security and discipline of any person in the prison; and

ensure the humane and fair treatment of every prisoner in the prison.

In this regulation, “prison staff”, in relation to a prison, means any of the following persons who is deployed to the prison:

an auxiliary police officer;

a medical officer;

a prison officer;

a public officer;

any other person employed by or seconded to the Singapore Prison Service.Inspection of prison6.—

The Superintendent of a prison must, as far as practicable, inspect (or ensure that a person authorised by the Superintendent inspects) the prison daily (except on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday).

The Superintendent of a prison or the person authorised by the Superintendent (as the case may be) must hear and deal with any complaint or request in relation to the prison or the treatment or safety of a prisoner in the prison, made by a prisoner during an inspection.Complaints and requests

ensure that every prisoner in the prison who wishes to make a complaint or request to a prison officer or a Visiting Justice is given a reasonable opportunity to do so; and

as soon as practicable, inquire into any complaint or request by a prisoner in the prison that is made, referred or reported to the Superintendent.Security of prisoners’ cells

check the security of the cells and take appropriate measures to address any security risk identified; and

check for any prohibited article, which must be removed from the cell.Period when prisoners unlocked from cells9.—

The Superintendent of a prison must determine the period during which a prisoner in the prison is unlocked from the prisoner’s cell.

For the purposes of paragraph (1), the Superintendent of the prison may determine different periods for different categories of prisoners.Authorised visitors to prison10.—

Subject to the orders of the Commissioner, the Superintendent of a prison may permit a person who has good reasons, to visit the prison at reasonable hours accompanied by a prison officer or an authorised auxiliary police officer.

A visitor to a prison must not converse or communicate with a prisoner during the visit without the permission of the Superintendent of the prison.Death or dangerous illness of prisoner11.—

If a prisoner dies in a prison, the Superintendent of the prison must ensure that —

the death is, as soon as practicable, reported to —

the police;

the Commissioner; and

the most accessible known relative of the prisoner; and

the Chairperson of the Board of Visiting Justices is notified of the death of the prisoner.

If a prisoner in a prison is dangerously ill, the Superintendent of the prison must, as soon as practicable, report this to the most accessible known relative of the prisoner.Reports to Commissioner

The Superintendent of a prison must not accompany a Visiting Justice when the Visiting Justice is visiting the prison.

The Superintendent of a prison must —

inform the Visiting Justice visiting the prison of any prisoner who has requested to see the Visiting Justice;

assist the Visiting Justice where necessary for the carrying out of the Visiting Justice’s duties; and

give the Visiting Justice full access to the prison and to every prisoner in the prison.Division 3 — Other prison officersApplication of this Division

the Commissioner;

a Deputy Commissioner;

a Divisional Director;

a Cluster Commander; or

a Superintendent.General duties of prison officers15.—

A prison officer deployed to a prison must —

comply with the Prison Standing Orders;

assist and support the Superintendent of the prison in maintaining order in the prison and the discipline of any person in the prison;

within the scope of the prison officer’s responsibilities, be firm in maintaining order in the prison and the discipline of any person in the prison;

refer any prisoner who appears from the prison officer’s observation to be physically or mentally unwell for medical observation;

ensure the safe custody of every prisoner in the prison; and

treat every prisoner humanely and fairly.

If a prison officer of or above the rank of sergeant has reason to suspect that an offence under section 81A(4) of the Act has been committed (whether or not from information received), the prison officer must investigate the offence.Use of force16.—

A prison officer may use force on a prisoner if all the following conditions are met:

the use of force is necessary —

to prevent the prisoner from causing self‑injury, injuring others, or escaping; or

to ensure the safety, security or good order of the prison;

the use of force complies with the Prison Standing Orders or guidelines approved by the Commissioner;

the use of force does not exceed what is reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

If a prison officer uses force on a prisoner in a prison or a prisoner who is being escorted from a prison —

the prisoner must, as soon as practicable, be brought to a medical officer, a registered medical practitioner, or an enrolled nurse or a registered nurse within the meanings given by section 2 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 1999 —

to be examined for injury; and

for any injury and other observations to be recorded; and

a report of the matter must immediately be made to the Superintendent of the prison.

To avoid doubt, this regulation does not affect section 81B of the Act.Use of restraints on prisoners17.—

A prison officer must not use a restraint on a prisoner unless authorised under this regulation.

A prison officer may use a restraint on a prisoner if all the following conditions are met:

the use of the restraint is necessary —

to prevent the prisoner from causing self‑injury, injuring others, or escaping; or

to ensure the safety, security or good order of the prison;

the restraint is of a type approved under the Prison Standing Orders;

the restraint is used in a way approved under the Prison Standing Orders.

A prison officer who uses a restraint on a prisoner must ensure that the restraint is removed immediately once it is no longer necessary.

To avoid doubt —

a prison officer must not use a restraint on a prisoner as punishment; and

this regulation does not affect section 81B of the Act.No testimonials or references

the Commissioner; or

an officer authorised by the Commissioner to give such permission.Prison officers living in prison staff quarters19.—

This regulation applies to a prison officer who is assigned, by the Commissioner or a person authorised by the Commissioner, to live in staff quarters.

Without limiting regulation 15(1)(a), a prison officer who lives in staff quarters must comply with all Prison Standing Orders relating to the staff quarters and the conduct of prison officers when living in staff quarters.Division 4 — Medical officersDuties of medical officers20.—

A medical officer for a prison must —

keep proper medical records of every prisoner in the prison;

ensure that every prisoner in the prison who is sick, or complains of being sick, is given adequate medical treatment and is placed under any medical observation that the medical officer considers necessary;

direct any modifications of labour, diet and punishment in any particular case that the medical officer considers necessary;

secure the medical facilities of the prison (including the items in the medical facilities) against unauthorised access;

perform any other function or duty relating to the maintenance of the order of the prison or the discipline or safe custody of the prisoners in the prisons, as specified in the Prison Standing Orders; and

comply with the Prison Standing Orders.

If a medical officer for a prison considers it necessary to inform the Superintendent of the prison of a prisoner’s medical condition, the medical officer —

must make a report to the Superintendent; and

may make any recommendations for the modification of labour, diet, punishment or treatment of the prisoner, or the supply of additional articles to the prisoner, that the medical officer considers necessary.Prevention of spread of infectious disease21.—

This regulation applies if a medical officer for a prison —

considers that a prisoner in the prison shows symptoms of suffering from, or being a carrier of, an infectious disease;

suspects that a prisoner in the prison is suffering from, or is a carrier of, an infectious disease; or

considers that a prisoner is at risk of having come into contact with a prisoner mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) or (b).

The medical officer must, without delay, give to the Superintendent of the prison a written report containing the medical officer’s recommendations on preventing the spread (or possible spread) of the infectious disease to other persons.

Without limiting paragraph (2), the medical officer may recommend that any prisoner mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c) be detained separately from other prisoners.Report to Superintendent of irregularity in medical facility

any irregularity in the prison’s medical facility that the medical officer is aware of; or

any difficulty or obstruction that the medical officer encounters in the execution of his or her duty.Death of prisoner

A Visiting Justice must, on every visit to a prison, hear any complaint, request or appeal that any prisoner in the prison wishes to make to the Visiting Justice.

A Visiting Justice must, after visiting a prison, make a record of —

the date and time of the visit;

the complaints, requests and appeals heard by the Visiting Justice;

any punishment given by the Visiting Justice; and

any observation, suggestion or recommendation that the Visiting Justice wishes to make.

The Commissioner must ensure that a report of one or more records made under paragraph (2) (whether or not including other information or statistics relating to a prison) is sent to the Minister at such times as the Minister may require.Division 6 — Institutional Discipline Advisory CommitteeInstitutional Discipline Advisory Committee25.—

The Minister may appoint one or more Institutional Discipline Advisory Committees for one or more prisons.

An Institutional Discipline Advisory Committee must —

consider any case that the Commissioner refers to it under regulation 4(1); and

provide an opinion to the Commissioner on whether any corporal punishment imposed under section 71(1)(a) of the Act is excessive.”.