❓ A parliamentary question addresses understaffing in community and juvenile justice, caseload caps, and funding. The Minister acknowledges the WAIRC matter but disputes the claims, stating all offenders are supervised despite some lacking dedicated case managers. Funding figures are unavailable, and legal costs are undetermined.
AnsweredQoN 49Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES — COMMUNITY AND JUVENILE JUSTICE WORKERS
(1) Is the minister aware that the situation of understaffing of community and juvenile justice workers is so severe, and the Department of Corrective Services’ response so inadequate, that the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission has issued interim orders imposing a cap on the caseload of the workers involved? (2) Is the minister aware that there is such a desperate shortage of community and juvenile justice workers that the introduction of the caseload cap means that there is now something in the order of 1 600 cases in which released offenders are not being supervised and are not participating in any support programs or therapy? (3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD
(1) Is the minister aware that the situation of understaffing of community and juvenile justice workers is so severe, and the Department of Corrective Services’ response so inadequate, that the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission has issued interim orders imposing a cap on the caseload of the workers involved? (2) Is the minister aware that there is such a desperate shortage of community and juvenile justice workers that the introduction of the caseload cap means that there is now something in the order of 1 600 cases in which released offenders are not being supervised and are not participating in any support programs or therapy? (3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(2) Is the minister aware that there is such a desperate shortage of community and juvenile justice workers that the introduction of the caseload cap means that there is now something in the order of 1 600 cases in which released offenders are not being supervised and are not participating in any support programs or therapy? (3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter?
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(2) Is the minister aware that there is such a desperate shortage of community and juvenile justice workers that the introduction of the caseload cap means that there is now something in the order of 1 600 cases in which released offenders are not being supervised and are not participating in any support programs or therapy? (3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(3) Will the minister advise the house, in respect of the period between the 2007 industrial dispute and the present time — (a) how much extra funding has been provided to the Department of Corrective Services for the employment of additional community corrections officers and juvenile justice workers; and (b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(b) what is the estimated cost of the lawyers hired by the department to represent it in respect of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission matter?
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Corrective Services has provided the following answer — (1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(1) The minister is aware of the matter before the WAIRC, but asserts that the premises of the question are ill-founded. (2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(2) Although a number of cases do not have a dedicated case manager, all offenders are required to report and are supervised or monitored, consistent with the requirements of their orders. (3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
(3) (a) Figures are not available for the uncertain and unspecified period. (b) The matter is still proceeding so I am unable to provide an estimate.
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