Bailed out: Parklea is on-line
by Julian Faigan
On the 4 March 2002, the Parklea Audio Visual Link went on-line and operational. The team heading the Department’s newest two studios are SCO Peter Shelley and SCO Glenn Smith in conjunction with the State Bail Video Link Co‑ordinator Peter Sharp.
It is proposed that the opening of these two studios will increase the Department’s capacity to facilitate this ongoing project. With the expectancy of an increasing inmate population, Parklea will be one of the frontrunners of video conferencing within the Cross Justice System, alleviating the workload on other facilities.
With the introduction of the new Bails Act, the video conferencing studios will become an important tool for managing the appearances of inmates in NSW Courts and other justice agencies.
Parklea Governor Jim Kama, after viewing the facility, commented that he is impressed with the support from Peter Sharp and the professionalism from officers Shelley and Smith in the setting up of Parklea’s newest facility.
It is to the credit to all staff within Parklea Correctional Centre to have implemented these two studios within the short time constraints given.
With the implementation of video links with the NSW Parole Board and the Serious Offenders Review Council later this year, the true value of the Cross Justice System will become increasingly apparent.