Last updated 27 January 2026

There are three security classifications, maximum, high and low (s 12(1)-(3) Corrective Services Act 2006 (Qld)) (Corrective Services Act).

A person on remand is classified automatically as high security, but can be increased to maximum (s 12(2)-(3) Corrective Services Act; reg 16 Corrective Services Regulation 2016 (Qld)).

Six factors must be taken into consideration in deciding the person’s security classification, including during any subsequent reviews:

  • the nature of the offence (i.e. considerations of the severity of the offence and whether it included violence, which will be reflected in the length of sentence)
  • the risk of the person escaping or attempting to escape
  • the risk of the person committing a further offence, and the impact the commission of the further offence is likely to have on the community
  • the risk the person poses to themselves and other people, staff members and the security of the facility (s 12(4d) Corrective Services Act)
  • the length of time remaining to be served under the sentence
  • information received from a law enforcement agency (such as police or the parole office).

Review

There is no guaranteed way to reduce security classification, as many factors are considered.

Positive factors include:

  • participation in recommended programs
  • satisfactory conduct within prison
  • satisfactory work reports.

Negative factors include:

  • breaches of prison discipline
  • refusal to participate in programs
  • attempted escapes.

A security classification review must be done:

  • if the person in prison requests a review and has not made a request in the past 12 months
  • the person’s security classification has been high for the past three years and has not been previously reviewed (s 13 Corrective Services Act).

Note that special rules apply to people held in custody on orders under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld) and the Terrorism (Preventative Detention) Act 2005 (Qld), which provide different processes of review.

A person’s security classification may otherwise be reviewed at any times. This includes following:

  • an assault
  • a change in circumstances such as a positive drug test, inappropriate behaviour or meeting an intervention milestone such as a program.

There must also be an event-based review when a person is returned to secure custody from low custody within 28 days of return.

Challenging the review decision

If a review changes a person’s security classification, QCS must provide an information notice, including reasons for the decision. If security classification is increased, the person must be advised that they can ask for reconsideration if they are dissatisfied, provided they do so in writing within seven days of having been notified (s 15 Corrective Services Act). Once the decision has been reconsidered, the person must be notified in writing of the result. According to procedure, reconsideration decisions must take place within 28 days. A person can also request reconsideration for the following reasons:

  • offender management procedures were not followed
  • inappropriate or inaccurate information formed the basis of the decision
  • pertinent or relevant information was not considered.

Note that a person can still challenge a classification decision in the Supreme Court, despite attempts in the Corrective Services Act to exclude the Judicial Review Act 1991 (Qld).