Question On Notice No. 1465 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 the creation of dedicated alcohol and drug rehabilitation prisons in
Western Australia, and to the results of a study indicating that more than 60 per cent of
adults entering prison had used ice or speed in the previous 12 months, and I
ask:
(a) will prisoners need to be convicted of drug or
alcohol-related offences in order to be eligible for placement at a dedicated
drug and alcohol rehabilitation prison; and
(b) please
outline the process by which prisoners will be identified for placement in
these facilities including any specific eligibility requirements?
Answered on 12 September 2018
The Department of Justice (the Department) advises:
(a) No - To identify prisoners for placement at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison for Women (Wandoo), prisoners go through a triage process whereby they are assessed against the following criteria:
Inclusion criteria:
- Sentenced prisoner with minimum of 6 months imprisonment remaining to serve
- Minimum/medium security
- History of substance misuse
- Substance misuse as a primary treatment need
- Motivated and willing to commit to the program
- Accepts responsibility for their offending behaviour. Through the assessment process a person does not need to have specific drug related convictions to be considered suitable. Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) has to have played a significant part in their offending behaviour. The inclusion criteria ‘History of substance misuse’ and ‘Substance misuse as a primary treatment target’ are the most relevant to this point.
(b) The triage team at Wandoo is a multidisciplinary team of four staff and are responsible for assessing the person against the criteria. The team includes two Psychologist who utilise risk assessment tools designed to identify a) risk of reoffending (generally and specific to violence) and b) criminogenic factors linked to a person’s offending behaviours. Once again, the two criteria ‘History of substance misuse’ and ‘Substance misuse as a primary treatment target’ are the most relevant to this point. Referrals are received from prisoners in metropolitan and regional prisons and the Department is working towards a process whereby prisoners can be identified and referred immediately following sentencing at Court. Prisoners are assessed against the above criteria (inclusion and exclusion). Input from Mental Health staff is required as part of this process to ensure a prisoner has no unmanaged mental health problems. If assessed as suitable, transfer to Wandoo can take place, the idea being that a prisoner’s time exposed to the mainstream prison environment is minimised.