❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice seeks detailed data on unsentenced women released from Bandyup Women's Prison in 2013 and 2014, including reasons for custody, outcomes of their cases, and demographic information. The response provides some data but notes limitations in data availability, particularly regarding court decisions and withdrawn charges.
AnsweredQoN 4135Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 75 of the Inspector of Custodial Services Report of an Announced Inspection of Bandyup Women’s Prison, note to paragraph 7.43, and I note that of the 864 women released from Bandyup in 2013, only 406 of them were sentenced. I understand the remaining 458 women were unsentenced and I ask: (a) Why were these 458 women taken into custody instead of being accommodated on bail? (Please specify the number of women for each reason) ; (b) How many of these unsentenced women : (i) were released on bail (and subsequently did not receive a sentence); (ii) received a non-custodial sentence (e.g. a fine or community work order); (iii) had charges against them withdrawn; (iv) were found not guilty; and (v) were released for any reason not given above : (A) if any, what are those reasons; (c) How many of these unsentenced women: (i) were Aboriginal; and (ii) were from non-English speaking backgrounds; (d) How many women were released from Bandyup Women's Prison in 2014? Of these, how many were: (i) sentenced; and (ii) unsentenced; (e) Of the unsentenced women released from Bandyup Women's Prison in 2014, how many: (i) were released on bail (and subsequently did not receive a sentence); (ii) received a non-custodial sentence (e.g. a fine or community work order) ; (iii) had charges against them withdrawn; (iv) were found not guilty; and (v) were released for any reason not give above: (A) if any, what are those reasons; (f) How many of these unsentenced women released from Bandyup Women's Prison in 2014 : (i) were Aboriginal; and (ii) were from non-English speaking backgrounds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2015
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
54 days
The Department of Corrective Services advises:
The response to this Parliamentary Question is based on prisoner releases rather than the number of individual women released and includes women who were released multiple times during the year. Departmental data shows that 868 prisoner releases occurred in 2013 from Bandyup Women's Prison (Bandyup). Of these 459 were unsentenced.
(a) Of the 459 women who had not been sentenced, and were then released from Bandyup in 2013, 298 were women who did not have bail set when they arrived, and 161 were women who did have bail set and were not released immediately.
The decision to grant bail is made by the Courts on a case by case basis. The Department of Corrective Services does not have information on the reasons why bail was not granted.
(b) (i) 328 (including home detention). The number of women who did not receive a subsequent sentence for the charges they were bailed for is not available. Bail information resides with the Courts.
(b)(ii) 108
(b) (iii) The Department of Corrective Services does not have data showing whether a prisoner's charges were withdrawn.
(b) (iv) Two
(b) (v) 21
(b) (v) (A) Other reasons for release:
Freedom - reason unknown (6)
Released ex court - reason unknown (9)
Released ex court - sentenced to time already served (1)
Released to Graylands Hospital (4)
Reason not recorded (1)
(c) (i) 235
(c) (ii)14
(d) 811
(d) (i) 297
(d) (ii) 514
(e) (i) 369.The number of women who did not receive a subsequent sentence for the charges they were bailed for is not available. Bail information resides with the Courts.
(e) (ii) 121
(e) (iii) The Department of Corrective Services does not have data showing whether a prisoner's charges were withdrawn
(e) (iv) None
(e) (v) 24
(e) (v) (A) Other reasons for release:
Freedom - reason unknown (9)
Released ex court - reason unknown (5)
Released to Graylands Hospital (2)
Released under Mental Health Act (1)
Reason not recorded (7)
(f) (i) 261
(f) (ii) 16
The response to this Parliamentary Question is based on prisoner releases rather than the number of individual women released and includes women who were released multiple times during the year. Departmental data shows that 868 prisoner releases occurred in 2013 from Bandyup Women's Prison (Bandyup). Of these 459 were unsentenced.
(a) Of the 459 women who had not been sentenced, and were then released from Bandyup in 2013, 298 were women who did not have bail set when they arrived, and 161 were women who did have bail set and were not released immediately.
The decision to grant bail is made by the Courts on a case by case basis. The Department of Corrective Services does not have information on the reasons why bail was not granted.
(b) (i) 328 (including home detention). The number of women who did not receive a subsequent sentence for the charges they were bailed for is not available. Bail information resides with the Courts.
(b)(ii) 108
(b) (iii) The Department of Corrective Services does not have data showing whether a prisoner's charges were withdrawn.
(b) (iv) Two
(b) (v) 21
(b) (v) (A) Other reasons for release:
Freedom - reason unknown (6)
Released ex court - reason unknown (9)
Released ex court - sentenced to time already served (1)
Released to Graylands Hospital (4)
Reason not recorded (1)
(c) (i) 235
(c) (ii)14
(d) 811
(d) (i) 297
(d) (ii) 514
(e) (i) 369.The number of women who did not receive a subsequent sentence for the charges they were bailed for is not available. Bail information resides with the Courts.
(e) (ii) 121
(e) (iii) The Department of Corrective Services does not have data showing whether a prisoner's charges were withdrawn
(e) (iv) None
(e) (v) 24
(e) (v) (A) Other reasons for release:
Freedom - reason unknown (9)
Released ex court - reason unknown (5)
Released to Graylands Hospital (2)
Released under Mental Health Act (1)
Reason not recorded (7)
(f) (i) 261
(f) (ii) 16
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