❓ Question regarding the Department of Corrective Services' policy on prisoner restraints during transport, specifically concerning injuries arising from the practice. The answer reveals a policy change to restrain all prisoners and a lack of readily accessible data on related injuries.
AnsweredQoN 2395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Corrective
Service’s policy that prisoners (even of a minor conviction) are transported in
hand and ankle cuffs, and I ask: (a) when
was this policy implemented; (b) how many
injuries have arisen from this method during that period; and (c) if there have been injuries, can the Minister
please detail them?
Service’s policy that prisoners (even of a minor conviction) are transported in
hand and ankle cuffs, and I ask: (a) when
was this policy implemented; (b) how many
injuries have arisen from this method during that period; and (c) if there have been injuries, can the Minister
please detail them?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2014
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
61 days
The Department of Corrective Services advises:
(a) The Department has always used restraints during the escort of prisoners dependent on assessed risk to safety and security. Each escort is managed on a risk assessment basis and authorised by the Designated Superintendent in line with the Department's prisoner movement procedures. On this basis, restraints were not routinely applied to minimum security prisoners during escort.
On 21 July 2014, the movements policy was amended to require all prisoners, including minimum security, to be restrained using two points of restraint (i.e. using a combination of hand cuffs, leg chains, or hand cuffed to an officer) at the appropriate times during an escort.
(b) Data specifically relating to injuries resulting from the use of mechanical restraints during escorts are not recorded in a manner that can readily be accessed for statistical purposes.
(c) Not applicable.
(a) The Department has always used restraints during the escort of prisoners dependent on assessed risk to safety and security. Each escort is managed on a risk assessment basis and authorised by the Designated Superintendent in line with the Department's prisoner movement procedures. On this basis, restraints were not routinely applied to minimum security prisoners during escort.
On 21 July 2014, the movements policy was amended to require all prisoners, including minimum security, to be restrained using two points of restraint (i.e. using a combination of hand cuffs, leg chains, or hand cuffed to an officer) at the appropriate times during an escort.
(b) Data specifically relating to injuries resulting from the use of mechanical restraints during escorts are not recorded in a manner that can readily be accessed for statistical purposes.
(c) Not applicable.
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