Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Corrections Act 2004

Corrections system - Coercive powers - Searching of prisoners and other persons

98B: Rub-down search of prisoners

You could also call this:

"Prison officers can search prisoners by rubbing them down to find forbidden items and keep everyone safe."

Illustration for Corrections Act 2004

If you are a prisoner, an officer can search you by rubbing you down at any time to find any items you are not allowed to have. The officer is looking for things you should not have, and they can do this search whenever they want. They do this to keep everyone safe.

An officer can also use a special machine to search you instead of rubbing you down, but only if the boss has said it is okay to use that machine for this purpose. This machine is like a scanner and it helps the officer find things you are not allowed to have without touching you. The boss must have already approved the machine for the officer to use it.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS996462.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawGovernment and voting > Government departments
Previous

98A: Scanner search of prisoners, or

"Prison officers can use scanners to check prisoners for forbidden items or health risks at any time."

Next

98C: Strip search of prisoner required in specified circumstances, or

"Prisoners must have a strip search in certain situations to keep everyone safe."

Part 2Corrections system
Coercive powers: Searching of prisoners and other persons

98BRub-down search of prisoners

  1. An officer may conduct a rub-down search of any prisoner, at any time, for the purpose of detecting any unauthorised item.

  2. An officer may conduct an imaging technology search of any prisoner as an alternative to a rub-down search if the chief executive has approved the device used in the imaging technology search as suitable for the purpose of replacing a rub-down search.

Notes
  • Section 98B: inserted, on , by section 28 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 41).