❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the adult prison population and characteristics of offenders entering prison between 2008 and 2013. The response provides data on prison population, fine defaulters, homelessness, and sentences for minor crimes, but lacks easily retrievable data on mental illness and intellectual disability.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the current adult prison population?
(2) What number (expressed both as a raw figure and percentage) of adult offenders entering prison between 1 November 2008 and the present time:
(a) have a diagnosed mental illness;
(b) are intellectually disabled;
(c) have, as a component of their sentence of imprisonment, a sentence of prison time for the failure to pay outstanding fines;
(d) are serving a term of imprisonment solely for the failure to pay outstanding fines;
(e) were recorded as having no fixed abode at the time of their sentencing; and
(f) were sentenced for a crime subject to a maximum penalty of two years or less?
(2) What number (expressed both as a raw figure and percentage) of adult offenders entering prison between 1 November 2008 and the present time:
(a) have a diagnosed mental illness;
(b) are intellectually disabled;
(c) have, as a component of their sentence of imprisonment, a sentence of prison time for the failure to pay outstanding fines;
(d) are serving a term of imprisonment solely for the failure to pay outstanding fines;
(e) were recorded as having no fixed abode at the time of their sentencing; and
(f) were sentenced for a crime subject to a maximum penalty of two years or less?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2013
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
35 days
(1) As at 7 May 2013, the prison population was 5,003.
(2) (a)-(b) This information is not recorded in a manner that is easily
retrievable. The information is not contained in any electronic form and would
require the Department to look at every individual file of a detainee from 1
November 2008 to present.
On that basis, the Department can advise on statistics of those being
treated by medication, up to 15% of prisoners in the major metropolitan centres
have a diagnosed mental illness. However this excludes many as illness such as
personality disorder is managed behaviourally rather than through medication.
(b) The Department does not routinely screen all prisoners for intellectual
disability across the State. As such, it is not possible to provide a clear
number. The Department can advise that there were 259 prisoners who entered
prison within the specified date range that are identified with a Disability
Services Unit Alert on the Department's Total Offender Management Solution
database.
(c) 13,060 cases or 38.62% (including cases with suspension/cancellation of
Early Release Orders).
(d) 5,017 cases or 14.84% (excluding cases where there was a remand warrant
current during the imprisonment period). It is noted that such sentences result
in only short periods of imprisonment, an average of four days.
(e) Only 24 cases of 'No Fixed Abode' are recorded. If WA addresses
(excluding Aboriginal Community addresses) with a known town/suburb but without
a street name are included, the number increases to 1,232 or 3.64%.
(f) 10,071 cases or 29.78% (excluding Fine Default Only cases but including
Suspension/Cancellation Early Release Order).
Please note that where the detainee was received more than once each
reception is counted.
(2) (a)-(b) This information is not recorded in a manner that is easily
retrievable. The information is not contained in any electronic form and would
require the Department to look at every individual file of a detainee from 1
November 2008 to present.
On that basis, the Department can advise on statistics of those being
treated by medication, up to 15% of prisoners in the major metropolitan centres
have a diagnosed mental illness. However this excludes many as illness such as
personality disorder is managed behaviourally rather than through medication.
(b) The Department does not routinely screen all prisoners for intellectual
disability across the State. As such, it is not possible to provide a clear
number. The Department can advise that there were 259 prisoners who entered
prison within the specified date range that are identified with a Disability
Services Unit Alert on the Department's Total Offender Management Solution
database.
(c) 13,060 cases or 38.62% (including cases with suspension/cancellation of
Early Release Orders).
(d) 5,017 cases or 14.84% (excluding cases where there was a remand warrant
current during the imprisonment period). It is noted that such sentences result
in only short periods of imprisonment, an average of four days.
(e) Only 24 cases of 'No Fixed Abode' are recorded. If WA addresses
(excluding Aboriginal Community addresses) with a known town/suburb but without
a street name are included, the number increases to 1,232 or 3.64%.
(f) 10,071 cases or 29.78% (excluding Fine Default Only cases but including
Suspension/Cancellation Early Release Order).
Please note that where the detainee was received more than once each
reception is counted.
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