❓ Hon Donna Faragher asks about instances where juvenile detention centres were full, forcing police to hold young offenders in police stations. Hon Kim Chance responds, detailing actions taken to address the issue, including inter-agency collaboration and diversionary programs.
AnsweredQoN 645Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
JUVENILE OFFENDERS — DETENTION CENTRE ACCOMMODATION
I refer to page 42 of the Auditor General’s report, released yesterday, entitled “The Juvenile Justice System: Dealing with Young People under the Young Offenders Act 1994”. It states — Since November 2007, there have been periods where the population of young people has exceeded the number of beds available in the detention centres. On these occasions, police are informed by the detention centres that no more young people will be admitted and police are required to make alternative arrangements, typically by keeping young people in custody in police stations. (1) Since November 2007, how many times have police been informed that no further young people would be admitted to — (a) Rangeview Remand Centre; and (b) Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre? (2) What immediate action does the minister intend to take to reduce the number of times that a young person is not admitted, given, as the Auditor General has said, that holding young people in police station custody facilities creates additional risks, as these facilities are not designed for the purpose of detaining young people? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer to page 42 of the Auditor General’s report, released yesterday, entitled “The Juvenile Justice System: Dealing with Young People under the Young Offenders Act 1994”. It states — Since November 2007, there have been periods where the population of young people has exceeded the number of beds available in the detention centres. On these occasions, police are informed by the detention centres that no more young people will be admitted and police are required to make alternative arrangements, typically by keeping young people in custody in police stations. (1) Since November 2007, how many times have police been informed that no further young people would be admitted to — (a) Rangeview Remand Centre; and (b) Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre? (2) What immediate action does the minister intend to take to reduce the number of times that a young person is not admitted, given, as the Auditor General has said, that holding young people in police station custody facilities creates additional risks, as these facilities are not designed for the purpose of detaining young people? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services, I provide the following reply. (1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
(b) Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services, I provide the following reply. (1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services, I provide the following reply. (1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
(1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
(b) Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre?
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services, I provide the following reply. (1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services, I provide the following reply. (1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
(1) (a) Once, on 17 March 2008. (b) Nil; all juveniles are admitted at Rangeview. (2) Departmental representatives meet regularly with Judge Reynolds, President of the Western Australian Children’s Court, the Western Australia Police and the Department for Child Protection to address the ongoing issues of remand numbers and the presenting needs of young people coming into the justice system. The Killara Youth Support Service assists Juvenile Custodial Services by supporting juveniles and assisting them to facilitate bail. An extra two beds have been purchased from DrugARM in the metropolitan area to assist young people who meet the criteria for supervised bail. JCS also applies for early listing at the Children’s Court and for bail variations. Western Australia Police is re-enforcing in its arresting police officers the requirement for them to make use of the provision of a responsible person undertaking bail for young people when they are arrested. The Department for Child Protection and JCS have built on existing protocols and have developed clear lines of communication and accountability. Young people under the care of the chief executive officer are provided with access to the Advocate for Children in Care as required. The Department for Child Protection has developed and continues to examine diversionary options for young people who have bail or are being discharged from custody. The metropolitan and regional supervised bail programs continue to develop diversionary options for young people who are on bail and who require support. The minister agrees with the Auditor General that holding young people in police station custody facilities is undesirable. All efforts are made to minimise the occasions when this occurs, and, when it is unavoidable, all efforts are made to minimise the length of time young people are detained.
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