Parliamentary Questions

(2) In reference to (1), how many of these tests were positive?
(3) In reference to (2), will you please provide a description of the type of drug identified on the prisoners?
(4) if not to (3), if not why not?
Answered on 11 October 2022
(1)   See Table 1

(2)   See Table 2

(3)   See Table 3

Table 1: The number of prisoner drug tests conducted at adult prisons, by prison and calendar year

 Table 2: The number of positive prisoner drug tests at adult prisons, by prison and calendar year

Table 3: The number of positive prisoner drug tests at adult prisons, by prison, substance detected and calendar year

Notes:

· Each year commences on 1 January, with 2022 reported up to and including 30 August.

· “Tests Taken” excludes those attempted but refused or otherwise not taken.

· Test results are as at 30 August 2022. As such those tests taken during the reporting period whose results are outstanding may subsequently return positive results.

· One test may return positive results for multiple substances; hence the aggregate of the identified substances may be greater than the number of tests with positive results.

· Positive test results with a mitigation reason (i.e. medication or the substance being taken prior to reception into custody) are excluded.

· The high testing numbers at Bunbury, Karnet and Wooroloo is primarily attributed to these being facilities with high numbers of minimum security prisoners. These prisons therefore have more prisoners undertaking external activities such as Prisoner Employment Program and Re-Integration Leave. Prisoners returning from such external activities are subject to frequent testing given they have left the secure perimeter of the facility.

· Bunbury is also a multi- security facility, with complex security risks. The high rate of drug testing throughout the facility is part of its strategies to help manage these risks, and to deliver therapeutic case management to assist with drug dependences.

· Two facility names are provided for the Melaleuca facility. “Melaleuca (MRRF)” refers to the privately run Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility. “Melaleuca (MWP)” refers to the same facility from 4 April 2020 onwards, at which time the State took control of the facility and renamed it Melaleuca Women’s Prison. Given the handover date, both MRRF and MWP have separate records for 2020.