❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the government's policy on funeral expenses for prisoners who die in custody, post-mortem procedures, and funeral rites, specifically referencing the case of Mr. Michael Herrick.
AnsweredQoN 976Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the funeral expenses of persons who die while in prison, I ask the Minister -
(1) What is the Government’s policy on the payment of burial for persons who die while serving their sentence?
(2) Does the Government’s duty of care to prisoners include post-mortem?
(3) Does the Government’s care and wellbeing of prisoners include providing funeral rites, including burial if there is no next of kin that can provide this service?
(4) Will the Department of Justice pay for the total funeral expenses for the late Mr Michael Herrick, who died earlier this year whilst serving his sentence in Acacia Prison?
(5) If not, why not?
(1) What is the Government’s policy on the payment of burial for persons who die while serving their sentence?
(2) Does the Government’s duty of care to prisoners include post-mortem?
(3) Does the Government’s care and wellbeing of prisoners include providing funeral rites, including burial if there is no next of kin that can provide this service?
(4) Will the Department of Justice pay for the total funeral expenses for the late Mr Michael Herrick, who died earlier this year whilst serving his sentence in Acacia Prison?
(5) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for Justice
Response time
74 days
(1) The family of persons who die while serving a custodial sentence may apply for assistance with a funeral through the Department of Community Development’s Family Crisis Program. This Program is means tested and where relevant criteria are satisfied, provides the applicant with a basic dignified funeral or cremation at the cemetery nearest death. This Program is available to all members of the public. If a prisoner dies in a prison remote from his or her usual place of living, the Department of Justice will pay reasonable costs for the return of the deceased to an agreed location. (2) All deaths in prison custody are reportable deaths as determined by Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 and must be reported to the Coroner. In all such deaths a post mortem examination is conducted unless the senior next of kin lodges an objection to the post mortem examination. (3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
If a prisoner dies in a prison remote from his or her usual place of living, the Department of Justice will pay reasonable costs for the return of the deceased to an agreed location. (2) All deaths in prison custody are reportable deaths as determined by Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 and must be reported to the Coroner. In all such deaths a post mortem examination is conducted unless the senior next of kin lodges an objection to the post mortem examination. (3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(2) All deaths in prison custody are reportable deaths as determined by Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 and must be reported to the Coroner. In all such deaths a post mortem examination is conducted unless the senior next of kin lodges an objection to the post mortem examination. (3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
If a prisoner dies in a prison remote from his or her usual place of living, the Department of Justice will pay reasonable costs for the return of the deceased to an agreed location. (2) All deaths in prison custody are reportable deaths as determined by Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 and must be reported to the Coroner. In all such deaths a post mortem examination is conducted unless the senior next of kin lodges an objection to the post mortem examination. (3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(2) All deaths in prison custody are reportable deaths as determined by Section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 and must be reported to the Coroner. In all such deaths a post mortem examination is conducted unless the senior next of kin lodges an objection to the post mortem examination. (3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(3) At the completion of the post mortem examination a certificate is issued as soon as reasonably possible permitting burial, cremation or other disposal of the body. If after a period of time the body is not claimed or there has been no contact by the family, the matter is referred to the Office of the Public Trustee by the Coronial Inquiry Section of the Police Service. If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
If family members advise the Coroners Court or the Coronial Inquiry Section that they are not in a financial position to pay for a funeral, they are referred to the Department for Community Development for assistance. A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
A memorial service may be conducted within the prison following each death in prison custody, at the discretion of the prison superintendent. The service is conducted by the prison chaplain for prisoners and staff who wish to attend. This service can occur whether or not the deceased has next of kin. (4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(4) No. (5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
(5) Refer to answers for Questions 1 and 3.
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