❓ Hon Jim Chown questions the Minister for Corrective Services regarding the action plan developed in response to a Corruption and Crime Commission report on inadequate prisoner supervision and actions to mitigate drug incursions into WA prisons. The action plan details are withheld for security reasons, but drug mitigation initiatives are outlined.
AnsweredQoN 416Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMMISSION REPORT — PRISONER SUPERVISION
416. Hon JIM CHOWN to the minister
representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to
parliamentary question without notice 388 regarding the Corruption and Crime
Commission's ''Report into inadequate supervision of prisoners
whilst in the community''.
(1) Please detail
the developed action plan as stated in the answer to parliamentary question
388?
(2) Please also
detail the actions underway to mitigate drug incursions into Western Australian
prisons?
416. Hon JIM CHOWN to the minister
representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to
parliamentary question without notice 388 regarding the Corruption and Crime
Commission's ''Report into inadequate supervision of prisoners
whilst in the community''.
(1) Please detail
the developed action plan as stated in the answer to parliamentary question
388?
(2) Please also
detail the actions underway to mitigate drug incursions into Western Australian
prisons?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
The Department of
Justice advises the following.
(1) The details of
the action plan cannot be provided due to security reasons.
(2)
The department has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce the supply and
use of drugs and alcohol in prison. In response to the Western Australian
Auditor General's report ''Minimising Drugs and Alcohol in
Prisons'', tabled in Parliament in November 2017, the Department of
Justice is currently developing a drug and alcohol strategy specific to
prisons, which addresses supply control, demand reduction, harm reduction and
monitoring and innovation; reviews its procedure and legal powers for searching
and drug testing to ensure that processes are consistent and robust and current
penalties and sanctions are an effective deterrent to the trafficking of drugs
in prisons; improves the way prisoners are drug tested, which will result in
more frequent and consistent testing, and a trial of staff and drug and alcohol
testing was recently completed and will inform future testing of staff; and
undertakes a trial of new drug detection technology, which includes instruments
which are less invasive, more difficult to adulterate and more resource
efficient than those currently used.
In December 2017,
the department commenced Operation Contra, which was a three-month concentrated
statewide search program aimed at reducing the volume of drugs and other
contraband from entering and being trafficked within custodial facilities. In
addition, Operation Contra identified ways in which search practices could be
enhanced and improved. The creation of dedicated alcohol and drug
rehabilitation prisons at Wandoo Reintegration Facility and Casuarina Prison
will also address demand as well as treatment approaches for prisoners.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
The Department of
Justice advises the following.
(1) The details of
the action plan cannot be provided due to security reasons.
(2)
The department has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce the supply and
use of drugs and alcohol in prison. In response to the Western Australian
Auditor General's report ''Minimising Drugs and Alcohol in
Prisons'', tabled in Parliament in November 2017, the Department of
Justice is currently developing a drug and alcohol strategy specific to
prisons, which addresses supply control, demand reduction, harm reduction and
monitoring and innovation; reviews its procedure and legal powers for searching
and drug testing to ensure that processes are consistent and robust and current
penalties and sanctions are an effective deterrent to the trafficking of drugs
in prisons; improves the way prisoners are drug tested, which will result in
more frequent and consistent testing, and a trial of staff and drug and alcohol
testing was recently completed and will inform future testing of staff; and
undertakes a trial of new drug detection technology, which includes instruments
which are less invasive, more difficult to adulterate and more resource
efficient than those currently used.
In December 2017,
the department commenced Operation Contra, which was a three-month concentrated
statewide search program aimed at reducing the volume of drugs and other
contraband from entering and being trafficked within custodial facilities. In
addition, Operation Contra identified ways in which search practices could be
enhanced and improved. The creation of dedicated alcohol and drug
rehabilitation prisons at Wandoo Reintegration Facility and Casuarina Prison
will also address demand as well as treatment approaches for prisoners.
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