❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Department of Corrective Services on the timeline, scope, and consultation process for reviews related to Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre, including the Youth Custodial Rules and the Young Offenders Act. The response details timelines, scopes, consultation, and steps taken to address staffing and lockdown issues.
AnsweredQoN 5371Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent report by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services 'Report of an Announced Inspection of Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre', and I ask -
(1) What is the timeline for the following reviews by the Department of Corrective Services -
(a) the review of the Juvenile Custodial Rules;
(b) the targeted review of the
Young Offenders Act 1994
; and
(c) the review of the processes for behaviour management of young people at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre?
(2) For each review -
(a) what is the scope of the review (please provide full details);
(b) is the Commissioner for Children and Young People being consulted;
(c) if no to (2)(b), why not; and
(d) who else has been/will be consulted?
(3) Regarding the Government's response to recommendation 3, what steps has the Minister taken to increase existing resources at the facility so that the number of scheduled and unscheduled lockdowns of child detainees can be reduced to at least a level no higher than in adult prisons?
(4) What steps are being taken to increase the number of Aboriginal staff at the facility, including but not limited to exploring the proposal by existing Aboriginal staff that mature Aboriginal men and women be employed in non-custodial care roles as 'aunties' or 'uncles' to the youth in the units?
(1) What is the timeline for the following reviews by the Department of Corrective Services -
(a) the review of the Juvenile Custodial Rules;
(b) the targeted review of the
Young Offenders Act 1994
; and
(c) the review of the processes for behaviour management of young people at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre?
(2) For each review -
(a) what is the scope of the review (please provide full details);
(b) is the Commissioner for Children and Young People being consulted;
(c) if no to (2)(b), why not; and
(d) who else has been/will be consulted?
(3) Regarding the Government's response to recommendation 3, what steps has the Minister taken to increase existing resources at the facility so that the number of scheduled and unscheduled lockdowns of child detainees can be reduced to at least a level no higher than in adult prisons?
(4) What steps are being taken to increase the number of Aboriginal staff at the facility, including but not limited to exploring the proposal by existing Aboriginal staff that mature Aboriginal men and women be employed in non-custodial care roles as 'aunties' or 'uncles' to the youth in the units?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
49 days
(1)(a) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) anticipates the review of the Youth Custodial Rules will be completed by 30 September 2012.
(b) The review of the
Young Offenders Act 1994 (
YOA) is being conducted during 2012 and the Department anticipates that amendments will be introduced to Parliament in 2013.
(c) The Department anticipates that the review of the processes for the behaviour management of young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre (BHDC) will be completed by 30 September 2012.
(2)(a) Youth Custodial Rules: The scope includes reviewing current best practice in Western Australia and ensuring that the Rules are updated to reflect this practice.
Behaviour Management of Young People: The scope of the review is currently being considered. It is envisaged that both international and national best practice models will be examined in regard to the use of regression procedures in managing behaviour, and the role of Individual Management Plans in managing risk. In support of these components, a specific review of a cohort of detainees transitioning through the behaviour management process will be undertaken.
YOA: The review will ensure that the YOA continues to provide a framework for youth justice that meets contemporary needs and will consider:
· Expansion of diversionary options such as court conferencing, weekend detention and greater use of early release schemes;
· Community Orders to improve interventions for young people who have committed offences;
· Co-location with other agencies at youth justice centres to strengthen cross-government collaboration in youth justice; and
· Amendments that will improve the administration of the Act.
(b) Youth Custodial Rules: No.
Behaviour Management of Young People: No.
YOA: Yes. The Commissioner for Children and Young People will be represented on the YOA Review Reference Group.
(c) Youth Custodial Rules: The review of the Youth Custodial Rules is an internal Departmental review.
Behaviour Management of Young People: The review of the Behaviour Management of young people is an internal Departmental review.
YOA: Not applicable.
(d) The Departmental reviews of both the Youth Custodial Rules and the Behaviour Management of Young People, has involved extensive consultation with senior detention centre management, including the director, assistant Superintendent, manager case planning, manager security, manager health services, psychological services team leader and training officer.
In regards to the YOA, other stakeholders who will be consulted include the President of the Children's Court, Department of the Attorney General, Department for Child Protection, Western Australian Police, Aboriginal Legal Service, University of Western Australia Crime Research Centre and the Drug and Alcohol Office. Other stakeholders may be identified as the review progresses.
(3) The Department is currently undergoing a process to recruit youth custodial officers. The amalgamation of BHDC and Rangeview Remand Centre (RRC) will also enable targeted intervention based on need and risk, rather than a generic staffing ratio of one staff to eight young people. The transition enables operational staff to be directed to key areas, to reduce the frequency and length of time detainees are in lockdown, which the Department recognises can be improved.
(4) The Department encourages Aboriginal people to apply for youth custodial roles by ensuring that recruitment processes are culturally appropriate. On occasion the Department has undertaken targeted recruitment and advertising and has engaged with Aboriginal Community Groups to encourage people to apply and to utilise their networks to disseminate information on recruitment and their facilities for information sessions. The Department also ensures that Aboriginal representation is included on the selection panels.
The Department also currently employs Aboriginal staff to undertake the role of Aboriginal welfare officers, which are non-custodial positions at BHDC and RRC. Aboriginal welfare officers provide welfare support including basic supportive counselling, participation in case management, linking young people to programs and providing training and consultation to other staff on how to manage cultural issues for young Aboriginal detainees.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(b) The review of the
Young Offenders Act 1994 (
YOA) is being conducted during 2012 and the Department anticipates that amendments will be introduced to Parliament in 2013.
(c) The Department anticipates that the review of the processes for the behaviour management of young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre (BHDC) will be completed by 30 September 2012.
(2)(a) Youth Custodial Rules: The scope includes reviewing current best practice in Western Australia and ensuring that the Rules are updated to reflect this practice.
Behaviour Management of Young People: The scope of the review is currently being considered. It is envisaged that both international and national best practice models will be examined in regard to the use of regression procedures in managing behaviour, and the role of Individual Management Plans in managing risk. In support of these components, a specific review of a cohort of detainees transitioning through the behaviour management process will be undertaken.
YOA: The review will ensure that the YOA continues to provide a framework for youth justice that meets contemporary needs and will consider:
· Expansion of diversionary options such as court conferencing, weekend detention and greater use of early release schemes;
· Community Orders to improve interventions for young people who have committed offences;
· Co-location with other agencies at youth justice centres to strengthen cross-government collaboration in youth justice; and
· Amendments that will improve the administration of the Act.
(b) Youth Custodial Rules: No.
Behaviour Management of Young People: No.
YOA: Yes. The Commissioner for Children and Young People will be represented on the YOA Review Reference Group.
(c) Youth Custodial Rules: The review of the Youth Custodial Rules is an internal Departmental review.
Behaviour Management of Young People: The review of the Behaviour Management of young people is an internal Departmental review.
YOA: Not applicable.
(d) The Departmental reviews of both the Youth Custodial Rules and the Behaviour Management of Young People, has involved extensive consultation with senior detention centre management, including the director, assistant Superintendent, manager case planning, manager security, manager health services, psychological services team leader and training officer.
In regards to the YOA, other stakeholders who will be consulted include the President of the Children's Court, Department of the Attorney General, Department for Child Protection, Western Australian Police, Aboriginal Legal Service, University of Western Australia Crime Research Centre and the Drug and Alcohol Office. Other stakeholders may be identified as the review progresses.
(3) The Department is currently undergoing a process to recruit youth custodial officers. The amalgamation of BHDC and Rangeview Remand Centre (RRC) will also enable targeted intervention based on need and risk, rather than a generic staffing ratio of one staff to eight young people. The transition enables operational staff to be directed to key areas, to reduce the frequency and length of time detainees are in lockdown, which the Department recognises can be improved.
(4) The Department encourages Aboriginal people to apply for youth custodial roles by ensuring that recruitment processes are culturally appropriate. On occasion the Department has undertaken targeted recruitment and advertising and has engaged with Aboriginal Community Groups to encourage people to apply and to utilise their networks to disseminate information on recruitment and their facilities for information sessions. The Department also ensures that Aboriginal representation is included on the selection panels.
The Department also currently employs Aboriginal staff to undertake the role of Aboriginal welfare officers, which are non-custodial positions at BHDC and RRC. Aboriginal welfare officers provide welfare support including basic supportive counselling, participation in case management, linking young people to programs and providing training and consultation to other staff on how to manage cultural issues for young Aboriginal detainees.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.