❓ Hon. Louise Kingston raises concerns about inmates at Albany Regional Prison facing challenges accessing mandatory programs for parole eligibility due to potential understaffing and access to external providers. The Minister responds, denying understaffing and outlining strategies to improve program access.
AnsweredQoN 1345Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ALBANY REGIONAL PRISON —
MANDATORY PROGRAMS
1345. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
Recent concerns have been brought
to my attention by a constituent whose son is currently serving a sentence at
Albany Regional Prison. It has come to light that inmates often face
significant challenges in accessing mandatory programs
that are crucial for their parole eligibility, including but not limited to
drug and alcohol programs. Moreover , in some cases, when an inmate has
already spent a considerable time on remand, this exacerbates the issue as they
will not be aware of the specific requirements they need to fulfil until they
are almost due for parole. Therefore, instead of being able to rehabilitate and
apply for parole, they are required to serve their full sentence.
Given these circumstances, I respectfully
ask —
(1) Given the
recent recruitment drive, is Albany Regional Prison still experiencing
significant understaffing?
(2) Are the courses conducted by
prison staff or through external providers?
(3) If the
courses are conducted through external providers, what steps are being
implemented to improve access to these vital courses for inmates?
MANDATORY PROGRAMS
1345. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the minister representing the
Minister for Corrective Services:
Recent concerns have been brought
to my attention by a constituent whose son is currently serving a sentence at
Albany Regional Prison. It has come to light that inmates often face
significant challenges in accessing mandatory programs
that are crucial for their parole eligibility, including but not limited to
drug and alcohol programs. Moreover , in some cases, when an inmate has
already spent a considerable time on remand, this exacerbates the issue as they
will not be aware of the specific requirements they need to fulfil until they
are almost due for parole. Therefore, instead of being able to rehabilitate and
apply for parole, they are required to serve their full sentence.
Given these circumstances, I respectfully
ask —
(1) Given the
recent recruitment drive, is Albany Regional Prison still experiencing
significant understaffing?
(2) Are the courses conducted by
prison staff or through external providers?
(3) If the
courses are conducted through external providers, what steps are being
implemented to improve access to these vital courses for inmates?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The Department of Justice advises as follows.
(1) No.
(2) Alcohol and
other drugs programs are delivered by external service providers at Albany
Regional Prison.
(3) Albany Regional Prison has offered room
availability and supervision by officers during the school holidays should the external providers need to deliver additional sessions. A further
strategy has been to deliver multiple programs on the same days.
some notice of the question. The Department of Justice advises as follows.
(1) No.
(2) Alcohol and
other drugs programs are delivered by external service providers at Albany
Regional Prison.
(3) Albany Regional Prison has offered room
availability and supervision by officers during the school holidays should the external providers need to deliver additional sessions. A further
strategy has been to deliver multiple programs on the same days.
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