8A   Official Visitors

(1)  The Minister may appoint a person to be an Official Visitor for a detention centre.

(2)  A person is eligible for appointment if, in the opinion of the Minister, the person is expert in some branch of juvenile justice and demonstrates concern for persons within the juvenile justice system. However, a juvenile justice officer is not eligible for appointment.

(3)  An Official Visitor holds office for such period not exceeding 2 years as is specified in the instrument of appointment and is, if otherwise qualified, eligible for re-appointment.

(4)  An Official Visitor may, as regards a detention centre for which the Official Visitor is appointed:

(a)  enter and inspect the detention centre at any reasonable time, and

(b)  confer privately with any person who is resident, employed or detained in the detention centre, and

(c)  furnish to the Minister advice or reports on any matters relating to the conduct of the detention centre, and

(d)  exercise such other functions as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(5)  A copy of any advice or report furnished to the Minister under subsection (4) (c) is to be forwarded to the Minister for School Education if the advice or report relates to any part of an educational establishment that is under the control or direction of the Minister for School Education.