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:
- The number of people who died while in custody in Western Australia in:
- 9
- 12
- 13
- 6 (as at 16/08/2018)
- 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.
- Completed reviews 30
- Outstanding reviews 10
-
- All reportable deaths are triaged for internal review immediately following notification.
- Average time between a reportable death and completion of an internal review is 198 days.