❓ Mr. Blayney questions the Minister for Emergency Services and Corrective Services regarding staffing, security upgrades, and training reviews at Greenough Regional Prison following a breakout. The Minister provides detailed responses on staffing numbers, security enhancements, and ongoing reviews of education and training programs.
AnsweredQoN 5578Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government media statement on 25
July 2019 titled ‘staffing numbers continue to climb for corrective services’,
and I ask: (a) How many new staff have been employed at the
Greenough Regional Prison since the prison breakout in November last year; (b) What is the Full-Time Equivalent figure for these new staff; (c) How
many of the 2,420 applicants mentioned in the above media release were from the Midwest; (d) Did
any of the 2,420 applicants express an interest in working in the Midwest; (e) How
many of the 70 trainee officers will be based at Greenough Regional Prison; (f) What security upgrades have been planned for Greenough Regional Prison since the break out in November last year; (g) What security upgrades have been completed since the prison breakout in November last year; and (h) Have the training and education services at the prison been reviewed since the breakout in November last year: (i) If yes, can the Minister please outline: (A) he outcomes of the review; and (B) how these services will be different compared with the same services before the breakout; and (C) a timeframe for when the outcomes of the review will be implemented in Greenough Region Prison; and (ii) If no, can the Minister indicate a timeframe for when these services will be reviewed: (A) if no, why not?
July 2019 titled ‘staffing numbers continue to climb for corrective services’,
and I ask: (a) How many new staff have been employed at the
Greenough Regional Prison since the prison breakout in November last year; (b) What is the Full-Time Equivalent figure for these new staff; (c) How
many of the 2,420 applicants mentioned in the above media release were from the Midwest; (d) Did
any of the 2,420 applicants express an interest in working in the Midwest; (e) How
many of the 70 trainee officers will be based at Greenough Regional Prison; (f) What security upgrades have been planned for Greenough Regional Prison since the break out in November last year; (g) What security upgrades have been completed since the prison breakout in November last year; and (h) Have the training and education services at the prison been reviewed since the breakout in November last year: (i) If yes, can the Minister please outline: (A) he outcomes of the review; and (B) how these services will be different compared with the same services before the breakout; and (C) a timeframe for when the outcomes of the review will be implemented in Greenough Region Prison; and (ii) If no, can the Minister indicate a timeframe for when these services will be reviewed: (A) if no, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2019
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
12 days
(a) A total of 30 new Prison Officers have been appointed. A further two recruits will be commencing at the prison on 29/11/2019.
(b) The full-time (FTE) equivalent is 1 FTE per officer.
(c) Of the 2420 applicants, 224 were local to Geraldton Mid-West.
(d) Of the 2420 applicants, 77 people who were not local to the Mid-West expressed an interest in working at Greenough Regional Prison.
(e) Two (2) trainees from the cohort of 70 trainee officers scheduled for training since the July media statement have been posted to Greenough Regional Prison.
Prior to July 2019, there were 24 new trainees appointed to Greenough Regional Prison having graduated from a local run school at the prison; and a further four trainees having been appointed from Perth-based schools.
(f) Upgrade and separation of the Women’s compound to improve security and constructive activity.
(g) Replacement of the Sally Port Gate.
Upgrades to internal fencing.
Replacement and upgrade of cell doors.
Hardening to unit control rooms and officer posts.
Upgrade to roof to inhibit movement.
Enhancement to staff egress routes.
Separate walkways.
(h) (i) (A-C) (ii) Yes. The Department is undertaking two whole of Department reviews that will potentially affect the nature of the education and training services at Greenough. These reviews are the Education, Employment and Transitional Services Review which is expected to be completed by early 2020 and the Prison Services Evaluation Project which first stage (high level design) is expected to be completed by June 2020.
The Department is also undertaking a review of Criminogenic Programs, which commenced in September 2019 due to the need for culturally appropriate, gender specific, agile and both short and longer term programs that are effective and offer end-to-end case management from prison to the community. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by November 2019 with the implementation of the approved recommendations to occur over the next 12 to 18 months.
Taking into consideration the recommendations made in the Shuard Report, the Department is implementing a range of responses including:
(A) Not applicable.
(b) The full-time (FTE) equivalent is 1 FTE per officer.
(c) Of the 2420 applicants, 224 were local to Geraldton Mid-West.
(d) Of the 2420 applicants, 77 people who were not local to the Mid-West expressed an interest in working at Greenough Regional Prison.
(e) Two (2) trainees from the cohort of 70 trainee officers scheduled for training since the July media statement have been posted to Greenough Regional Prison.
Prior to July 2019, there were 24 new trainees appointed to Greenough Regional Prison having graduated from a local run school at the prison; and a further four trainees having been appointed from Perth-based schools.
(f) Upgrade and separation of the Women’s compound to improve security and constructive activity.
(g) Replacement of the Sally Port Gate.
Upgrades to internal fencing.
Replacement and upgrade of cell doors.
Hardening to unit control rooms and officer posts.
Upgrade to roof to inhibit movement.
Enhancement to staff egress routes.
Separate walkways.
(h) (i) (A-C) (ii) Yes. The Department is undertaking two whole of Department reviews that will potentially affect the nature of the education and training services at Greenough. These reviews are the Education, Employment and Transitional Services Review which is expected to be completed by early 2020 and the Prison Services Evaluation Project which first stage (high level design) is expected to be completed by June 2020.
The Department is also undertaking a review of Criminogenic Programs, which commenced in September 2019 due to the need for culturally appropriate, gender specific, agile and both short and longer term programs that are effective and offer end-to-end case management from prison to the community. It is anticipated that this review will be completed by November 2019 with the implementation of the approved recommendations to occur over the next 12 to 18 months.
Taking into consideration the recommendations made in the Shuard Report, the Department is implementing a range of responses including:
(A) Not applicable.
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