Mr. Kirkup questions the routine use of isolation at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, citing OICS concerns. The Department of Justice denies routine isolation, explaining the use of supportive environments and confinement under specific legal provisions for safety reasons.

AnsweredQoN 2156Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 October 2017
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

I refer
to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services report Behaviour
Management Practices at Banksia Hill Detention Centre tabled 17 July 2017, and ask why is isolating young people a routine behaviour management strategy utilised by the Department of Corrective Services, given the concerns raised by the OICS?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
23 November 2017
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
11 days
The Department of Justice (the Department) advises that Banksia Hill Detention Centre (Banksia) does not isolate young people as a routine behavioural management strategy. There are instances where detainees need to be managed in a more supportive environment such as the Intensive Support Unit for short periods of time to regulate psychological and emotional concerns that have resulted in behaviours that present a risk to the young person or other detainees, staff and visitors.
Confinement to sleeping quarters can also be used in accordance with the provisions of section 173(e) of the Young Offenders Act 1994 where the Superintendent or a Visiting Justice can isolate a young person for up to 24 and 48 hours respectively.  The Department will only utilise this provision in the most extreme of circumstances, where detainees have posed a risk to themselves, other detainees and staff, or infrastructure.
At all times the detainee is monitored and records of the confinement are maintained.

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