Whether the inmate has prior convictions is mentioned in Prison Form 8 when a prisoner is registered. The terms used to classify prior convictions are, C - for first conviction, R/C - for second conviction (reconvicted) and R/R/C for convicted more than twice. This information is self-administered, i.e. the prisoner provides the RC Branch with this information since there is no centralized database of the prisoners’ details. As mentioned to the Commission by a prison officer of WCP, the accuracy of this information is questionable because prisoners may be not inclined to divulge that they have prior convictions, since first offenders (hereinafter referred to as FO) are usually held in WCP, while reconvicted offenders (hereinafter referred to as R/C) and recidivists (hereinafter referred to as R/R/C) are transferred to PCP and MCP respectively. Hence, prisoners might provide false answers to avoid being housed in certain prisons. This also calls into question the accuracy of the annual DOP Statistics, which mention how many first, second and recidivist offenders are in prison. Prisoner files would further include the committal papers in case of a convicted prisoner, or the Warrant of Detention in case of a remandee. The judgments given by the relevant court in case of a convicted prisoner will also be included in a prisoner’s file. Details about the date of admission as well as the date of release are also entered in the Prisoner’s Record. A good practice that was observed at WCP is the maintenance by the RC Branch of a separate calendar, which records the release dates as well as the court dates of the prisoners according to the details recorded in Prison Form 8. Examples of the different types of file maintenance procedures found in prisons are as follows: • • • • At WCP, files are not maintained for prisoners convicted with a sentence of one month or less. Instead, only their warrant of commitment and Prison Form 8 is attached to the Prison's Form 8 book. This is problematic because it is susceptible to being misplaced and would be harder to locate, unlike a file. In ARP, it was found that separate files are not maintained for remand prisoners. Rather, only the Prison 8 Form and the detention order of every prisoner were stapled together and placed in files, which were categorized according to the Courts at which the prisoners have their cases. At WWC, if a prisoner is a long-term inmate his case reports, record of home leave, any courses which he followed, transfers from work parties and a character certificate by the Welfare Branch would be included in his file. YOs registered at Wataraka have a personal file each, which contains information such as their prisoner number, the date they were admitted, their release date, identification marks, offence, height, age etc., the Court order and Prison 113 form. The Commission found that for long-term prisoners other than remandees, a separate ‘Prisoner’s Record book’ issued as ‘Prison Form 17’ is maintained. The Prisoner’s Record is issued by the DOP specifically for long-term prisoners but it is used to maintain records of all convicted and condemned prisoners as well. The Prisoner’s Record Book (Prison Form 17) contains Prison Form 8. Apart from Prison Form 8, there are various other documents notified by the director of the prisoner’s serious illness, injury or transfer to a health institution. The explicit request of a prisoner not to have his or her spouse or nearest relative notified in the event of illness or injury shall be respected.’ 58