Prisons Act
ZambiaAct of Parliament
This Act has been repealed.It was replaced by Zambia Correctional Service Act. Read this one for the law as it stood, not as it is now.
The Prisons Act is an Act of the Parliament of Zambia. It contains 258 sections. Read its sections below, or ask Levy any question about the Prisons Act and get an answer grounded in the Act with citations.
Sections of the Prisons Act
- S. 1This Act may be cited as the Prisons Act. Short title
- S. 2In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- Interpretation
- S. 3(1) The Minister may, by Gazette notice, declare any building, enclosure or Declaration of prisons
- S. 4(1) Whenever- Temporary prisons
- S. 5(1) Subject to the provisions of section thirteen, in every prison there shall be an Officer in charge
- S. 6P olice officers may act as prison officers
- S. 7In every prison in which women prisoners are imprisoned there shall be women Women prison officers
- S. 8There is hereby established a police force to be known as the Zambia Prison Zambia Prison Service
- S. 9(1) The Service shall consist of persons appointed to or deemed under this Act Membership of
- S. 10(1) There shall be a Commissioner of Prisons who shall be a public officer. Commissioner of
- S. 11C ommissioner empowered to make standing orders
- S. 12F unctions of Deputy Commissioner and delegation to Assistant Commissioner
- S. 13C harge of prison in which no officer in charge appointed
- S. 14A sum due to a prison officer or other person employed in prisons or to his Payments due to
- S. 15M inister may appoint committee of inquiry
- S. 16M edical officers
- S. 17D uties of medical officers
- S. 18M edical inspection
- S. 19O bservation of prisoners charged with capital offence
- S. 20The medical officer shall ensure that every prisoner under sentence of death, Examination of
- S. 21An officer in charge may order a prisoner to submit himself to medical Powers of officer in
- S. 22The medical officer shall, on the death of any prisoner, otherwise than by lawful Death of prisoner
- S. 23Upon the death of a prisoner, the officer in charge shall at once notify a Notification of death of
- S. 24G eneral powers and duties of prison officers
- S. 25P rison officer to have powers of police officer
- S. 26D uties of prison officers
- S. 27(1) A prison officer may examine anything within, or being brought into or taken Power to examine
- S. 28P unishment by subordinate officers
- S. 29U se of weapons by prison officers
- S. 30P rison officer's power to arrest
- S. 31P ower to take photographs, fingerprints, etc., of a prisoner
- S. 32N on-liability for act done under authority of warrant
- S. 33Any prison officer who mutinies and any prison officer or other person who, Mutiny or sedition
- S. 34A bsence from duty and desertion by prison officers
- S. 35I nciting prison officer to desert
- S. 36A ssault on officer senior in rank
- S. 37M iscellaneous offences by prison officers
- S. 38(1) No prison officer or any person with any duty with prisoners shall sell or Other offences
- S. 39P rison officers not to be members of trade unions
- S. 40(1) No prison officer shall accept any fee, gratuity or reward from, or knowingly Prison officers not to
- S. 41M ethods of dealing with disciplinary matters
- S. 42(1) The Commissioner may reduce in rank or may dismiss any prison officer Dismissal and
- S. 43Any junior or subordinate officer commits an offence against discipline if he is Offences against
- S. 44A rrest and confinement of junior or subordinate officers for disciplinary offence
- S. 45P ower to try junior officers
- S. 46P ower to try subordinate officers
- S. 47(1) The Commissioner may confirm or enhance, vary or remit any punishment Procedure after
- S. 48P risons Advisory Board
- S. 49(1) A fine imposed on a prison officer by way of punishment for an offence Recovery of fines and
- S. 50(1) A prison officer inquiring, under powers conferred on him by this Part, into a Powers of officers
- S. 51O ffence against discipline may be tried by subordinate court
- S. 52(1) A prison officer may at any time while within a prison be searched on the Search of prison
- S. 53(1) When any prison officer below the rank of Superintendent is accused of any Interdiction of prison
- S. 54P ay not to accrue during absence without leave or imprisonment
- S. 55(1) No person shall be admitted into a prison unless under the authority of and Admission of prisoners
- S. 56A dmission of infant child with woman prisoner
- S. 57P articulars of prisoner to be recorded
- S. 58Every prisoner shall be searched on admission, and at such time subsequently Search of prisoners
- S. 59C ustody and disposal of money and other effects of prisoners
- S. 60S eparation of prisoners
- S. 61P risoners in custody of officer in charge
- S. 62P robation officer may have custody of prisoner
- S. 63R emoval of juvenile to reformatory
- S. 64P roduction of prisoners in court
- S. 65P risoners under police escort
- S. 66S tatements to police officers
- S. 67R elease of prisoners for investigations, etc.
- S. 68R emoval of prisoners from one prison to another
- S. 69C ertain prisoners may be restrained
- S. 70M entally disordered or defective prisoners
- S. 71(1) In the case of the serious illness of a prisoner, an officer in charge, on the Removal of sick
- S. 72(1) Where a medical officer reports to the Commissioner that a prisoner is Removal of prisoner to
- S. 73L iability for escape from hospital or leprosarium
- S. 74The period during which a prisoner is detained in any hospital, leprosarium or Serving sentence
- S. 75(1) Every criminal prisoner shall be engaged in such work within or without the General requirement
- S. 76(1) Civil prisoners and unconvicted prisoners shall be required to keep their Employment of
- S. 77Any person who, save as is provided in this Act- Penalty for
- S. 78P ower of arrest
- S. 79U nauthorised communications
- S. 80O ffences in respect of prisons and prisoners
- S. 81Any person who is found committing an offence against the provisions of Removal of certain
- S. 82U nlawful possession of articles supplied to prison officers
- S. 83A ssisting prisoner to escape
- S. 84Any person harbouring or employing a prisoner whom he knows to be Harbouring prisoners
- S. 85(1) Any person who wears or uses without due authority any uniform or Offences in connection
- S. 86The officer in charge shall cause to be affixed in a conspicuous place outside Notice to be displayed
- S. 87M aintenance of unconvicted prisoners from private sources
- S. 88F ood, etc., not to be transferred to other prisoners
- S. 89F ood, clothing and equipment for unconvicted prisoners
- S. 90M inor prison offences
- S. 91M ajor prison offences
- S. 92S eparation of prisoner charged with offence
- S. 93H earing of prison offences
- S. 94P unishments that may be imposed by subordinate court
- S. 95Where an officer in charge, who is a junior officer or subordinate officer, finds a Punishment or minor
- S. 96T ransfer of case
- S. 97P unishment of minor prison offence by senior officer or visiting justice
- S. 98Where the Commissioner, a senior officer, or a visiting justice finds a prisoner Punishment of major
- S. 99C onfirmation of sentence of corporal punishment
- S. 100No sentence of corporal punishment for a prison offence shall be imposed Prison offences for
- S. 101C ertain prisoners not liable to corporal punishment
- S. 102(1) Whenever a sentence of corporal punishment for a major prison offence is Restrictions in respect
- S. 103E xecution of sentence of corporal punishment
- S. 104M edical practitioner and officer in charge to be present while corporal
- S. 105S entence of corporal punishment may be stayed
- S. 106(1) A prisoner undergoing a punishment of confinement in a separate cell with Special provisions
- S. 107C onfinement in separate cell
- S. 108P unishment in different prisons
- S. 109(1) Convicted criminal prisoners sentenced to imprisonment, whether by one Remission of part of
- S. 110R emission of part of sentence of certain prisoners
- S. 111O fficer in charge to be responsible for discharge of prisoners
- S. 112D ay of discharge of prisoners
- S. 113A prisoner on discharge from prison shall be entitled to travelling expenses to Travelling expenses of
- S. 114(1) A prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment for a period of four years or Release on parole
- S. 115M inister may permit absence of young prisoners from prison
- S. 116R elease on licence of prisoners serving life imprisonment
- S. 117C ompulsory after care orders
- S. 118F ailure to comply with compulsory after care order and commission of further
- S. 119R eport on long term prisoners
- S. 120C onfinement of condemned prisoners
- S. 121P ersons who may have access to condemned prisoner
- S. 122A ttendance at execution by officials
- S. 123Any Justice of Appeal or Judge may visit and inspect any prison at any time, Judges may visit
- S. 124(1) The Minister and the Deputy Minister shall be visiting justices of all prisons. Minister and Ministers
- S. 125Magistrates shall be visiting justices of the prisons situated in the area in Magistrates to be
- S. 126P owers of visiting justices
- S. 127On completion of each visit, a visiting justice shall enter in a book to be kept Visiting justice to
- S. 128A ppointment of official visitors
- S. 129D uties of official visitors
- S. 130O fficial visitors to record visit in prescribed book
- S. 131M inisters of religion may visit prison
- S. 132V isits of probation officers and representatives of prisoners' aid societies
- S. 133E stablishment of youth corrective centres
- S. 134(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, where a person Corrective training
- S. 135(1) Where in any declared area a male prisoner is- Extra-mural penal
- S. 136L ist of prisoners detained to be delivered to High Court
- S. 137(1) The Commissioner may offer rewards to persons who give information Rewards for
- S. 138R ewards and gratuities
- S. 139C ommutation of death sentence to sentence of imprisonment
- S. 140D etention of prisoners from other countries
- S. 141R emoval of prisoners to other countries
- S. 142C ommissioner may grant permission to be absent from prison
- S. 143D isposal of deceased's estate
- S. 144A witness who duly attends at or for the purposes of an inquiry or hearing held Witnesses' expenses
- S. 145P ower to prosecute under other law not affected
- S. 146R ules
- S. 147Has had its effect.
- S. 148E xercise for special prisoners
- S. 149T ype and record of prisoners' labour
- S. 150C ommissioner to prescribe hours of labour
- S. 151E ntries in employment book
- S. 152A llocation of labour to prisoners
- S. 153R atio of escorts to working parties
- S. 154R estriction on working of prisoners
- S. 155E mployment of prisoners in disciplinary capacity
- S. 156W ork on Sundays and public holidays
- S. 157D uty of officers to prevent escape of prisoners
- S. 158A ction in event of escape of prisoner
- S. 159P otential escapees
- S. 160P eriod at large not to count as served
- S. 161P rohibited articles
- S. 162U nconvicted prisoners to be segregated
- S. 163P rivate clothing
- S. 164D isinfection of prisoner's clothing
- S. 165P ersons charged with capital offence
- S. 166P rivate medical advice
- S. 167M odification of prison routine and withdrawal of privileges
- S. 168M aintenance of judgment debtors
- S. 169O ffences by prisoners to be dealt with promptly
- S. 170M edical examination of certain prisoners
- S. 171V isits to prisoner in separate confinement
- S. 172P revention of injury when corporal punishment is inflicted
- S. 173T ype of cane and corporal punishment
- S. 174C orporal punishment book
- S. 175R eturns of punishments to Commissioner
- S. 176E ntries in prisoners' punishment book
- S. 177C ertain prisoners may be denied privileges
- S. 178V isits to prisoners in separate confinement
- S. 179C ommissioner may vary punishment
- S. 180U se of mechanical restraints
- S. 181C alculation of sentences for remission
- S. 182R ecord of remission to be kept
- S. 183O peration of remission of sentences to be explained
- S. 184P risoners in mental hospital or leprosarium
- S. 185C alculation of forfeited remission
- S. 186R elease on day after earning total remission
- S. 187R emission in regard to part payment of fines
- S. 188P ermit to be at large by Minister
- S. 189P ermit to be at large by Commissioner
- S. 190C onditions of temporary release
- S. 191R ecommendations by officer in charge
- S. 192I nterpretation
- S. 193F orm of order
- S. 194C onditions of release to be explained
- S. 195C ontravention of order to be reported to Commissioner
- S. 196R eport of prisoners liable to order
- S. 197T ransfer of condemned prisoners
- S. 198S earch of condemned prisoners
- S. 199A ppeals by condemned prisoners
- S. 200V isits by ministers of religion
- S. 201C lothing and bedding
- S. 202V isits to condemned prisoners
- S. 203I llness of condemned prisoners
- S. 204M ental disorder of condemned prisoners
- S. 205E xpenses of visits by certain relatives
- S. 206I ssue of special luxuries
- S. 207N otice of execution
- S. 208D isposal of body of executed prisoner
- S. 209E xpenses of executioners
- S. 210V isits to prisons by visiting justices, etc.
- S. 211R eligious denominations
- S. 212R eligious services in prisons
- S. 213S upply of religious books
- S. 214R etention of religious objects by prisoners
- S. 215P ayment of travelling expenses
- S. 216E stablishment of Fund
- S. 217A dministration of Fund
- S. 218R ecords to be kept
- S. 219A dmission to hospital
- S. 220D iet
- S. 221Y outh corrective centres
- S. 222G rading of inmates
- S. 223S eparate confinement of inmates
- S. 224P unishment of inmates
- S. 225M echanical restraints
- S. 226P rohibition of tobacco
- S. 227E ducation
- S. 228R ecreation of inmates
- S. 229S upply of books
- S. 230S ocial relations and after care
- S. 231L etters and visits
- S. 232D iet
- S. 233C lothing
- S. 234P ersons not to divulge information without authority
- S. 235O ffences and penalties
- S. IPRELIMINARYPART I PRELIMINARY
- S. IIESTABLISHMENT AND CONTROL OF PRISONSPART II ESTABLISHMENT AND CONTROL OF PRISONS
- S. IIICONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATIONPART III CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
- S. IVAPPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF MEDICAL OFFICERSPART IV APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF MEDICAL OFFICERS
- S. IXCLASSIFICATION, CUSTODY AND REMOVAL OF PRISONERSPART IX CLASSIFICATION, CUSTODY AND REMOVAL OF PRISONERS
- S. VPOWERS, DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF PRISON OFFICERSPART V POWERS, DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF PRISON OFFICERS
- S. VIOFFENCES BY AND IN RELATION TO PRISON OFFICERSPART VI OFFENCES BY AND IN RELATION TO PRISON OFFICERS
- S. VIIDISCIPLINE OF PRISON OFFICERSPART VII DISCIPLINE OF PRISON OFFICERS
- S. VIIIADMISSION AND CONTROL OF PRISONERSPART VIII ADMISSION AND CONTROL OF PRISONERS
- S. XEMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERSPART X EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS
- S. XIESCAPES, PROHIBITED ARTICLES AND AREASPART XI ESCAPES, PROHIBITED ARTICLES AND AREAS
- S. XIICIVIL AND UNCONVICTED PRISONERSPART XII CIVIL AND UNCONVICTED PRISONERS
- S. XIIIDISCIPLINE OF PRISONERSPART XIII DISCIPLINE OF PRISONERS
- S. XIVREMISSION OF SENTENCEPART XIV REMISSION OF SENTENCE
- S. XIXVISITING JUSTICES, OFFICIAL VISITORS, MINISTERS OF RELIGION AND PRISONERS' AID SOCIETIESPART XIX VISITING JUSTICES, OFFICIAL VISITORS, MINISTERS OF RELIGION AND PRISONERS' AID
- S. XVDISCHARGE AND PAROLEPART XV DISCHARGE AND PAROLE
- S. XVICOMPULSORY AFTER CARE ORDERSPART XVI COMPULSORY AFTER CARE ORDERS
- S. XVIIREPORT ON LONG TERM PRISONERSPART XVII REPORT ON LONG TERM PRISONERS
- S. XVIIIPRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATHPART XVIII PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH
- S. XXYOUTH CORRECTIVE CENTRESPART XX YOUTH CORRECTIVE CENTRES
- S. XXIEXTRA-MURAL PENAL EMPLOYMENTPART XXI EXTRA-MURAL PENAL EMPLOYMENT
- S. XXIIMISCELLANEOUSPART XXII MISCELLANEOUS
- S. XXIIIRULES, REPEALS AND SAVINGSPART XXIII RULES, REPEALS AND SAVINGS