Disability Justice and the Nelson Mandela Rules: Rethinking Mainstream in Custodial Settings

ICPA 2025 Presentation by Daniel Pollock (PID144)

Author

Daniel Pollock

Statewide Manager, Queensland Corrective Services, Australia

Daniel Pollock believes justice systems should provide a unique opportunity for meaningful change. The increasing number of people with disabilities in these systems highlights the need to reconsider traditional incarceration models, which often fail to address the specific challenges faced by this cohort or equip them with skills to reduce recidivism.

After a longstanding career committed to complex human services, including child protection, youth justice, forensic disability and mental health – Daniel is now at the helm and leading transformative change for Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) for incarcerated individuals with a disability. As Manager of QCS Disability Services and drawing on his background in front line practice, specialist advisory roles and systems reform, Daniel is exploring new approaches and models to change culture and thinking about disability within custodial settings.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Psychology and Business Management from the University of Queensland, followed by postgraduate studies in Criminology (Forensic Disability) at the University of Melbourne.

In 2024, his dedication to advancing disability justice earned him a Winston Churchill Trust Fellowship, allowing him to travel internationally and examine global models and best practices within disability justice. Through his research and international engagements, Daniel is developing an evidence-based framework to ensure that people with disabilities who encounter the justice system receive tailored, informed, and best-practice support. By integrating academic theory with real-world experience, he is driving progressive change that will shape policies and practices in Queensland, ensuring justice systems are more inclusive and responsive to diverse needs.

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