❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks data on the incarceration of mentally ill individuals and the provision of mental health services within the prison system since 2008. The answer provides some data but highlights limitations in data collection and specific budget allocation.
AnsweredQoN 3794Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
For each year since 2008 please advise, -
(1) How many people who have been found to be insane or not fit to stand trial have been incarcerated?
(2) How many people with a serious mental illness are incarcerated?
(3) Given the increase in the prison population, what has been the increase in, -
(a) mental health services to this population;
(b) prison inreach to this population;
(c) inpatient facility to this population; and
(d) community services to this population?
(1) How many people who have been found to be insane or not fit to stand trial have been incarcerated?
(2) How many people with a serious mental illness are incarcerated?
(3) Given the increase in the prison population, what has been the increase in, -
(a) mental health services to this population;
(b) prison inreach to this population;
(c) inpatient facility to this population; and
(d) community services to this population?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 May 2011
Responded by
Minister for Finance representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
49 days
(1) The Total Offender Management System records numbers of those ordered to be held in prison under the Mentally Impaired Accused Act to be as follows:
2008: 4
2009: 3
2010: 3
2011: 0 (up until 28 February 2011)
(2) Due to data reporting limitations only the number of prisoners on medication for a mental illness on any given day is available. As of 1 April 2011 there were 615 prisoners which equates to 14 per cent of the population on antipsychotic medication.
(3)
(a) There is no specific allocated budget for Prison Mental Health Services. Mental Health Services are funded out of the overall allocated budget for the Health Service Directorate. Since 2008 the allocated budget for the Health Service Directorate was as follows;
· 08/09- $24 432 245
· 09/10- $27 797 500
· 10/11- $27 867 204
An increase in Mental Health Services has occurred whereby peer support prisoners at all sites across the state have undertaken "Mental Health First Aid" training, funded by the Mental Health Commission.
(b) A Commonwealth funded (COAG) through care service will be commencing shortly to aid the transition of Aboriginal prisoners to the community. This will include prisoners with mental health issues.
(c) There is no dedicated inpatient facility in the prison setting however, Crisis Care Units and Safe Cells are available to provide constant observation and care, for those suffering from psychiatric emergency prior to possible transfer to the Frankland Centre subject to bed availability.
(d) Community services are provided to community-based offenders, while prison-based services are provided to the prison population.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
2008: 4
2009: 3
2010: 3
2011: 0 (up until 28 February 2011)
(2) Due to data reporting limitations only the number of prisoners on medication for a mental illness on any given day is available. As of 1 April 2011 there were 615 prisoners which equates to 14 per cent of the population on antipsychotic medication.
(3)
(a) There is no specific allocated budget for Prison Mental Health Services. Mental Health Services are funded out of the overall allocated budget for the Health Service Directorate. Since 2008 the allocated budget for the Health Service Directorate was as follows;
· 08/09- $24 432 245
· 09/10- $27 797 500
· 10/11- $27 867 204
An increase in Mental Health Services has occurred whereby peer support prisoners at all sites across the state have undertaken "Mental Health First Aid" training, funded by the Mental Health Commission.
(b) A Commonwealth funded (COAG) through care service will be commencing shortly to aid the transition of Aboriginal prisoners to the community. This will include prisoners with mental health issues.
(c) There is no dedicated inpatient facility in the prison setting however, Crisis Care Units and Safe Cells are available to provide constant observation and care, for those suffering from psychiatric emergency prior to possible transfer to the Frankland Centre subject to bed availability.
(d) Community services are provided to community-based offenders, while prison-based services are provided to the prison population.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.