Prison offence for which a prisoner may be punished include the keeping of certain articles in cells, gambling, assaulting prison officers, other prisoners or any other person, using indecent, abusive or insolent language and refusing or failing to carry out prison work [ Correctional Services Act 1982 s.42A, 43 and Correctional Services Regulations 2001 Reg. 15-22].

A breach of prison regulations may be dealt with in different ways depending on the type of regulation. If the matter is categorised as a minor breach, the manager can notify the prisoner in writing of the alleged breach [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.42A]. The prisoner may, within twenty four hours of receiving the manager's notice, write to the manager (or an employee of the department) and ask to be charged with the offence and have the matter formally heard. The manager must then conduct an inquiry into the allegation in the manner prescribed by the Act.

If the prisoner does nothing or elects not to have a formal hearing, the manager can proceed to impose penalties which include forfeiture of specified privileges for up to seven days or be excluded from working with other prisoners for up to seven days.

More serious breaches actually require the manager to hold an inquiry or for the Visiting Tribunal to hold a formal hearing [Correctional Services Act 1982 s.44(1)].