WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding deaths in custody between 2017 and July 2020, including location, cause, and Indigenous status.

AnsweredQoN 6316Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 June 2020
Portfolio
Emergency Services; Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

Were there any deaths in custody in the calendar years of 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 to date: (a) If yes, how many deaths in custody occurred according to each calendar year: (i) According to calendar year, in which prisons did these deaths occur; (ii) According to calendar year, what were the causes of these deaths in custody; and (iii) How many of these deaths in custody were the death of person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
12 August 2020
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services
Response time
2 days
(a)(i):
Prison
2017
2018
2019
2020*
ACACIA PRISON
1
2
2
2
ALBANY REGIONAL PRISON
1
BANDYUP WOMENS PRISON
1
BROOME REGIONAL PRISON
1
BUNBURY REGIONAL PRISON
1
1
1
CASUARINA PRISON
6
5
7
7
EASTERN GOLDFIELDS REGIONAL PRISON
1
HAKEA PRISON
1
4
KARNET PRISON FARM
1
1
MELALEUCA REMAND AND REINTEGRATION FACILITY
1
ROEBOURNE REGIONAL PRISON
1
WEST KIMBERLEY REGIONAL PRISON
1
* Up until 31 July 2020.
(ii):
Cause of Death*
2017
2018
2019
2020**
APPARENT NATURAL
6
8
9
7
NATURAL
5
APPARENT UNNATURAL
1
6
3
UNNATURAL
1
UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER NATURAL/UNNATURAL
2
1
* Until the Coroner determines the cause of death, the cause is reported as ‘APPARENT’.
**Up until 31 July 2020.
(iii):     From 1 January 2017 up until 31 July 2020, total - 15.
From 1 January 2020 up until 31 July 2020, total – 4.

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