Corrections Act 2004, ss 99, 101, 141; Corrections Regulations 2005, reg 111; Prison Operations Manual, V.03.06
Yes. Visitors should expect to be searched when they come to visit. They can be searched with an electronic “scanner” or they can be given a rub-down search. If they don’t agree to be searched, they won’t be allowed to visit you. All prisons now have at least an electronic scanner that visitors have to walk through.
Sometimes a prison will conduct random car searches as visitor cars enter the prison grounds. This can include dog searches. The drug dogs are often present when vehicles and visitors are coming and going, and they can put the dogs through your car to search for illegal or banned items. Visitors can refuse to let their car be searched, but if they do refuse they’ll have to leave.
If a banned item is found during a search, the visitor will be banned from visiting and won’t be able to enter any prison for a certain period, usually at least 12 months. The visitor may also face criminal charges.