Skip to main content
Home

Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1467 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 August 2018 by Hon Alison Xamon

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to internal departmental reviews of deaths in custody, and I ask:
(a) how many people died while in custody in Western Australia in:
(i) 2015;
(ii) 2016;
(iii) 2017; and
(iv) 2018;
(b) how many of these deaths were subject to internal review by the Department of Corrective Services, or the now Department of Justice;
(c) how many of these reviews have been completed;
(d) how many of these reviews remain outstanding; and
(e) for deaths in custody since 2015, what is the average length of time it has taken the department to:
(i) begin an internal review; and
(ii) complete an internal review?

Answered on 12 September 2018

The Department of Justice advises:

 

  1. The number of people who died while in custody in Western Australia in:
    1. 9
    2. 12
    3. 13
    4. 6 (as at 16/08/2018)
  2. All deaths that occur in the care of the Department, or that have been determined as a reportable death by the Coroner, are subject to internal review.
  3. Completed reviews     30
  4. Outstanding reviews   10
    1. All reportable deaths are triaged for internal review immediately following notification.
    2. Average time between a reportable death and completion of an internal review is 198 days.