A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the involvement of former offenders in the Department of Corrective Services' activities, including professional development, policy, and research. The response indicates limited direct involvement but highlights existing consultation frameworks.

AnsweredQoN 445Legislative Council
Asked
7 May 2009
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES — FORMER OFFENDERS
I refer to the United Kingdom report “Unlocking Potential” published by Clinks — (1) What contribution is currently being made by former offenders in respect of — (a) professional development of department staff? (b) criminal justice policy and practice? (2) What research has the department undertaken into ways for offenders, former offenders and their families to contribute to policies, services and practices that affect them? (3) If no or nil to (1) and (2), what strategies will the department use to achieve contributions by offenders, formers offenders and their families to policies, services and practices that affect them? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

(1) (a) Nil. (b) Former offenders may influence the development of the Department of Corrective Services’ policy and practices through consultation with its community and consultative groups. (2) Nil. (3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.
(1) What contribution is currently being made by former offenders in respect of — (a) professional development of department staff? (b) criminal justice policy and practice? (2) What research has the department undertaken into ways for offenders, former offenders and their families to contribute to policies, services and practices that affect them? (3) If no or nil to (1) and (2), what strategies will the department use to achieve contributions by offenders, formers offenders and their families to policies, services and practices that affect them? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) (a) Nil. (b) Former offenders may influence the development of the Department of Corrective Services’ policy and practices through consultation with its community and consultative groups. (2) Nil. (3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.
(b) criminal justice policy and practice?
(3) If no or nil to (1) and (2), what strategies will the department use to achieve contributions by offenders, formers offenders and their families to policies, services and practices that affect them? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) (a) Nil. (b) Former offenders may influence the development of the Department of Corrective Services’ policy and practices through consultation with its community and consultative groups. (2) Nil. (3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: (1) (a) Nil. (b) Former offenders may influence the development of the Department of Corrective Services’ policy and practices through consultation with its community and consultative groups. (2) Nil. (3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.
(1) (a) Nil. (b) Former offenders may influence the development of the Department of Corrective Services’ policy and practices through consultation with its community and consultative groups. (2) Nil. (3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.
(3) DCS currently implements the government’s framework and a code of conduct directing the appropriate ways to engage offenders, former offenders and their families in consultation. This framework incorporates focus groups that are conducted with offenders who have completed programs in both prison and the community to inform program development, group process, facilitator and program standards; and the peer support group, which involves consultation across all prisons gathering information to influence local prison policy and operations.

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