❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the Rangeview Young Adults facility (renamed Wandoo Reintegration Facility), juvenile recidivism rates, and the use of Multi Systemic Therapy for juvenile offenders. The response provides details on facility opening, programs, recidivism factors, and alternative strategies.
AnsweredQoN 5647Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer to the 2012-2013 Budget Papers, Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2, page 782 'Significant issues Impacting the Agency', 5th dot point, and ask —
(a) when will the new Rangeview Young Adults facility be open and taking inmates;
(b) referring to the comment that there will be 'a focus on education, training and employment' at the facility, will there be an on entry assessment of the literacy, language and numeracy skills of the young adults;
(c) given the high correlation between low educational attainment and rates of incarceration, will intensive literacy programs be offered; and
(d) what specific programs will there be for Indigenous offenders at Rangeview?
(2) I refer to the 2012-2013 Budget Papers, Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2, page 783 'Outcomes and Key Effectiveness Indicators' Rate of return to detention – juveniles and the increase from 2010-2011 actual of 50.45 per cent to 2011-2012 estimated actual of 56 per cent, and ask —
(a) what has led to the increase from 50.45 per cent to an estimated 56 per cent; and
(b) what specific action will be taken in 2012-2013 to ensure the target of 50 per cent will be met given that the 2011-2012 target was 50 per cent and estimated actual is 56 per cent?
(3) In relation to juveniles, and given the research indicating the success of Multi Systemic Therapy (and other forms of this, including the Intensive Supervision Program and Family Intensive Team), and that the Health Department won the Excellence in Prevention and Community Education Category of the 2011 National Drug and Alcohol Awards for this program, why is this therapy not utilized more widely in the treatment of juvenile offenders?
(a) when will the new Rangeview Young Adults facility be open and taking inmates;
(b) referring to the comment that there will be 'a focus on education, training and employment' at the facility, will there be an on entry assessment of the literacy, language and numeracy skills of the young adults;
(c) given the high correlation between low educational attainment and rates of incarceration, will intensive literacy programs be offered; and
(d) what specific programs will there be for Indigenous offenders at Rangeview?
(2) I refer to the 2012-2013 Budget Papers, Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2, page 783 'Outcomes and Key Effectiveness Indicators' Rate of return to detention – juveniles and the increase from 2010-2011 actual of 50.45 per cent to 2011-2012 estimated actual of 56 per cent, and ask —
(a) what has led to the increase from 50.45 per cent to an estimated 56 per cent; and
(b) what specific action will be taken in 2012-2013 to ensure the target of 50 per cent will be met given that the 2011-2012 target was 50 per cent and estimated actual is 56 per cent?
(3) In relation to juveniles, and given the research indicating the success of Multi Systemic Therapy (and other forms of this, including the Intensive Supervision Program and Family Intensive Team), and that the Health Department won the Excellence in Prevention and Community Education Category of the 2011 National Drug and Alcohol Awards for this program, why is this therapy not utilized more widely in the treatment of juvenile offenders?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
63 days
(1)(a) The Young Adults Facility, now renamed the Wandoo Reintegration Facility (Wandoo) will commence service on 1 November 2012.
(1)(b) Yes. The exact method or processes is to be determined by Serco's Rehabilitation and Reintegration Manager and will be approved by the Department.
(1)(c) Yes. The Serco bid has an Education team of five staff which covers basic numeracy and literacy as well as work, and vocational training and education. It will be a key focus for the Serco Rehabilitation and Reintegration team, and especially the education team.
(1)(d) Serco is required under the Contract to develop an Aboriginal Action Plan. This includes employing Aboriginal staff, providing staff with cultural awareness training, providing access to Aboriginal organisations and delivering tailored, evidenced based programs. The suite of programs will be developed by the Serco Reintegration and Rehabilitation team when they commence and will be approved by the Department.
(2)(a) As a statistical measure, recidivism for young detainees is likely to vary from year to year because of the small numbers of offenders involved.
(2)(b) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) will continue to aim for the 2012-13 target by ensuring the performance indicators and targets for Youth Justice Services are continually improved. The performance indicators and targets measure a range of community and custodial based services including prevention and diversion services, advice to courts and releasing authorities, case management and supervision, education and training and programs and interventions.
The Department will further consolidate the Regional Youth Justice Services (RYJS) strategy established in the Mid-West Gascoyne, Goldfields, East and West Kimberley and Pilbara regions. This strategy has proven effective in increasing the rate of diversion of young people from the criminal justice system and reducing remands in custody.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Youth Bail Service (MYBS) will continue to find viable alternatives to custody for young people in the metropolitan area who are eligible for bail. In 2012/13 MYBS will follow up with families of young people cautioned by Police, who are assessed as being most likely to have further involvement with the formal criminal justice system.
(3) In 2005 the Department established the Intensive Supervision Program to provide a family and community based therapeutic program for young people. The program was renamed the Family Intensive Team (FIT) program in late 2009 and its core aim was to work with serious repeat young offenders to address their offending behaviour.
In June 2009, the Department contracted an independent evaluation of FIT. The review identified that the program had a consistently low referral rate of young people at the most serious end of the offending spectrum and had a lack of an ongoing evaluation plan. Consequently, due to the program not achieving the desired outcomes, and subsequently not being cost effective, the Department ceased the program in December 2010.
The Department has invested heavily in the RYJS strategy. Due to the success of the Mid West Gascoyne and Goldfields services in diverting young people from the formal justice system, the Department was allocated Royalties for Regions funding to expand these services to the East Kimberley, West Kimberley and Pilbara regions. The services provided include extended hours family support, emergency short stay accommodation, counselling and education services.
The Department has also invested in the Outcare Live Works program which is a unique training and rehabilitation program that successfully engages, trains and supports young Aboriginal males who have had contact with the criminal justice system. Live Works facilitates placement of these young Aboriginal people into traineeships, apprenticeships or other employment.
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(1)(b) Yes. The exact method or processes is to be determined by Serco's Rehabilitation and Reintegration Manager and will be approved by the Department.
(1)(c) Yes. The Serco bid has an Education team of five staff which covers basic numeracy and literacy as well as work, and vocational training and education. It will be a key focus for the Serco Rehabilitation and Reintegration team, and especially the education team.
(1)(d) Serco is required under the Contract to develop an Aboriginal Action Plan. This includes employing Aboriginal staff, providing staff with cultural awareness training, providing access to Aboriginal organisations and delivering tailored, evidenced based programs. The suite of programs will be developed by the Serco Reintegration and Rehabilitation team when they commence and will be approved by the Department.
(2)(a) As a statistical measure, recidivism for young detainees is likely to vary from year to year because of the small numbers of offenders involved.
(2)(b) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) will continue to aim for the 2012-13 target by ensuring the performance indicators and targets for Youth Justice Services are continually improved. The performance indicators and targets measure a range of community and custodial based services including prevention and diversion services, advice to courts and releasing authorities, case management and supervision, education and training and programs and interventions.
The Department will further consolidate the Regional Youth Justice Services (RYJS) strategy established in the Mid-West Gascoyne, Goldfields, East and West Kimberley and Pilbara regions. This strategy has proven effective in increasing the rate of diversion of young people from the criminal justice system and reducing remands in custody.
Additionally, the Metropolitan Youth Bail Service (MYBS) will continue to find viable alternatives to custody for young people in the metropolitan area who are eligible for bail. In 2012/13 MYBS will follow up with families of young people cautioned by Police, who are assessed as being most likely to have further involvement with the formal criminal justice system.
(3) In 2005 the Department established the Intensive Supervision Program to provide a family and community based therapeutic program for young people. The program was renamed the Family Intensive Team (FIT) program in late 2009 and its core aim was to work with serious repeat young offenders to address their offending behaviour.
In June 2009, the Department contracted an independent evaluation of FIT. The review identified that the program had a consistently low referral rate of young people at the most serious end of the offending spectrum and had a lack of an ongoing evaluation plan. Consequently, due to the program not achieving the desired outcomes, and subsequently not being cost effective, the Department ceased the program in December 2010.
The Department has invested heavily in the RYJS strategy. Due to the success of the Mid West Gascoyne and Goldfields services in diverting young people from the formal justice system, the Department was allocated Royalties for Regions funding to expand these services to the East Kimberley, West Kimberley and Pilbara regions. The services provided include extended hours family support, emergency short stay accommodation, counselling and education services.
The Department has also invested in the Outcare Live Works program which is a unique training and rehabilitation program that successfully engages, trains and supports young Aboriginal males who have had contact with the criminal justice system. Live Works facilitates placement of these young Aboriginal people into traineeships, apprenticeships or other employment.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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