Hon. Samantha Rowe asks about the frequency, cost, and positive test rates of drug prevalence testing in WA prisons. The Minister provides figures for testing frequency, costs, and positive results for the current and previous financial years.

AnsweredQoN 543Legislative Council
Asked
12 September 2013
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

PRISONS —
DRUG PREVALENCE TESTING
543. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Attorney General representing
the Minister for Corrective Services:
(1) How many times a year is drug prevalence testing
conducted?
(2) What is the total annual cost of drug prevalence testing?
(3) How many individuals have tested positive during drug
prevalence testing in the year to date?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question. The Minister for Corrective Services advises as
follows.
(1) Drug prevalence testing is
conducted four times a financial year—once a quarter.
(2) The cost per financial year is
estimated at $90 572.
(3) For the
current financial year, 2013–14, the first drug prevalence testing has
been conducted. This resulted in 52 prisoners testing positive of 900 tested.
For the 2012–13 financial year, 3 520 prisoners were tested with 191
testing positive.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more