Rehabilitation & Reparation / Department of Corrective services

Transcription

1 Rehabilitation

2 26 Rehabilitation Integrated Offender Management The current development of the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) project shows the Department as a leader in Australian corrections. The Department has reviewed examples of best practice in corrections as taken from the relevant research literature, and through the analysis of innovations in other jurisdictions, based a major departmental initiative enabling a greater efficacy in reducing re-offending rates. The project to date has engaged staff in partnership to work towards the development of an effective and integrated offender management model. The Department seeks to consolidate the separate and unrelated policies for community and custody into one single departmental framework. The offender management model will provide a conceptual framework for this, by defining the interaction of the various offender management components, and engender a departmental commitment to the improvement of offender management and practices with the primary target of reducing the rate of re-offending. Partnerships also have been established with external academic consultants from the School of Psychology and Sociology, Central Queensland University. Work to date has been a review of the Offender Risk Needs Inventory (ORNI) in respect to the tool s reliability and validity, defining the research methodology prior to implementation and assisted in analysing the data specifications. Future work planned is aimed at enhancing the reliability and validity of the ORNI tool. The outcomes from the IOM project will assist all departmental staff in working within a new framework, which will provide for a consistent management of offenders in a multiprovider environment. INTEGRATED OFFENDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Integrated Offender Management strategies are to be supported by the development of an Integrated Offender Management System (IOMS) that will provide: integration of separate offender information systems currently used by the Department; automation of workflow across all four output areas; The principles behind IOM include: an offender driven approach; a focus on reducing offending; a seamless and integrated progression through the services for offenders; consistent use of processes and tools; robust assessment; and a cultural and gender responsive forum. Other innovative strategies from IOM include: the development of a reliable and valid actuarial tool (the Offender Risk Needs Inventory) for assessing offender risk and needs; offender rehabilitation programs based on principles of responsivity and program integrity; and offender rehabilitation programs targeted more effectively to address the criminogenic needs of high risk offenders. electronic document management of offender records to support offender management strategies; creation of integrated information views to support user and reporting requirements; development of technology mechanisms, such as integrated workflow and gateways, to enable key information transfers between relevant agencies to be automated, based on access permissions, secure transmission protocols and virus protection mechanisms; and implementation of middleware/applications to facilitate the integration between information systems internally and with the potential to link with other agencies. The development of IOMS will progress over the coming years and ultimately will replace the current Correctional Information System.

3 Rehabilitation 27 Prison Industries The primary purpose of prison industries is to contribute to the Department s goal of prisoner rehabilitation by enhancing the chances of prisoners securing employment after their release. Prison industries, which include farming activities, achieve this by providing prisoners with the opportunity to gain job-relevant technical skills while developing positive work habits and attitudes. At the same time, prisoners are provided the opportunity to undergo formal vocational education and training, with qualifications being nationally recognised. The table below demonstrates the spread of industry activity at each correctional centre. PRISON INDUSTRIES BY CORRECTIONAL CENTRE Laundry Timber Products Bakery Metal Products Textile Products Bookbinding/Printing Prisoners put the finishing touches to one of the gardens in Brisbane Womens Correctional Centre. Assembly & Packing Painting & Powdercoating Mechanical Dairy Beef Farm Produce Contract Labour Arthur Gorrie Borallon Brisbane Women s Darling Downs Lotus Glen Numinbah Palen Creek Rockhampton Sir David Longland Townsville Wolston Woodford

4 28 Rehabilitation Wherever possible, the Department seeks to minimise the impact of prison industries on local industry and employment. To this end, the Department favours working in association with local organisations on a sub-contract basis, with an emphasis on the production of goods for the export market and on replacing imported goods. The performance of the Department s prison industries is continuing to improve, with revenue generated from sales to external parties this year amounting to $7.606m ( : $6.949m). The number of inmates employed in industries grew from,23 in to,220 in with the rate of employment increasing from 25 per cent in to 27 per cent in Goods and services provided for internal consumption amounted to $3.402m. The Federal and State government moved to deregulate the dairy industry from July 2000, which led to the removal of the dairy milk quota system. In the last financial year a loss of $990,000 was made for the milk quota held by the Department in respect to the three dairy farms operated at low security prisons. These dairies are operated under normal commercial conditions and therefore the Department was entitled to make application for assistance under the Dairy Structural Adjustment Program Scheme. Compensation of $.53 million was granted to the department, which is being received in quarterly instalments over the next eight years. The Department is continuing in its endeavours to bring about greater integration between industries and the delivery of job-related vocational education and training. In a strategy to be piloted at the new Capricornia Correctional Centre, vocational training will be delivered and formally accredited by the centre s own trade instructors. Any qualifications gained in this manner will be nationally recognised, by virtue of extended registration arrangements negotiated with local registered training organisations. Palen Creek Correctional Centre developed and implemented a new industry in the production and processing of commercial grade herbs for the tea and medicinal industries, along with a semi-commercial market garden that grows and supplies vegetables to the centre. Effective responses to the deregulation of the dairy industry were put in place, minimising the financial impact on the Department. The outlook for the forthcoming year is for consolidation of current operations, with an expectation of further improvements in participation rates and the level of revenue generated. Programs All custodial correctional centres and community corrections regions provide opportunities for offenders to participate in rehabilitation programs. INTERVENTIONS The Department delivers 2 intervention programs that include four core targeted intervention programs: Anger Management Substance Abuse Cognitive Skills Ending Offending. The Cognitive Skills Program is undertaken by a majority of offenders as an initial intervention. It is used either as a stand alone intervention or as a precursor to other specialist programs. Ending Offending is an Indigenous program focussed on the treatment of offenders with alcohol addiction. The core programs are supported by eight more intensive elective programs of a much longer duration that target specific offence types. During the year: New industries facilities were commissioned at the Arthur Gorrie and Woodford Correctional Centres. For the first six months of the new financial year, the new facilities at the Woodford Correctional Centre will concentrate on the production of all cell joinery for the Maryborough Correctional Centre currently under construction. Lotus Glen Correctional Centre won the Department s first direct export contract for the supply of oilskin coats to a joint venture in Papua New Guinea. Programs which target substance abuse are Relapse Prevention (Moreton Model) and Preventing and Managing Relapse. Programs which target sexual offending are: Pre-Intervention Program Sex Offenders Intervention Program Sex Offenders Treatment Program Indigenous Sex Offenders Treatment Program Community Corrections Sex Offenders Program. The Violence Intervention Program targets violent offenders.

5 Rehabilitation 29 The Department has developed a Programs Framework that provides guidance for the development, approval, implementation and evaluation of all offender programs. It embodies the principles of good practice, currency of research and offender rehabilitation. Among the key aspects of the framework are: individual learning pathways for offenders; formation of a Programs Review Committee to provide advice in regard to offender program development, approval, implementation and evaluation processes; access to enabling strategies; and flexibility in the delivery of offender programs. The framework will be remodelled into a departmental policy and related procedures in the near future. The Prisoners and their Families Program addresses the issue of family dislocation through parental incarceration. The program, which will be facilitated by Good Beginnings Australia Ltd, a not-for-profit community agency, will be trialed at the Townsville and Sir David Longland Correctional Centres. The program assists parents to develop and maintain bonds with their families during periods of incarceration. The Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Program (funded via the National Illicit Drug Strategy) is being delivered at three centres. The program is a three-week, pre-release assessment program that continues in the community. In addition to these programs, the Department offers a broad range of educational and vocational education and training programs. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS The participation of prisoners in educational programs depends on the assessed needs of the individual. The range of programs offered includes: one-to-one literacy education literacy and numeracy education secondary education tertiary education. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING All vocational education and training provided by the Department is nationally accredited and includes: courses in furnishing, construction, engineering, hospitality, horticulture, sport and recreation, laundry and asset maintenance; computer/information technology studies; first aid and occupational health and safety; and Indigenous studies in art, culture, environment and community studies. A new model for the delivery of vocational education and training is being trialed at both the Capricornia and Woodford Correctional Centres. In this model, vocational training is linked to industry training and delivered on the job in the correctional industries workshops. Nationally accredited training packages/ courses are delivered by trade instructors and trainers from registered training organisations. The Department currently is negotiating with the Department of Employment and Training to enable prisoners who are working in correctional industries to participate in traineeships. POST-RELEASE PRISONER EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SERVICE Community Corrections staff Karla Hartnett and Jennie Christie facilitate a workshop. The Post Release Employment Assistance Service is a pilot program that commenced in July 2000 to assist recently released prisoners to gain and retain employment. It provides assistance with literacy and numeracy skills, living skills, vocational training and job search and placement. This program is currently being evaluated in terms of impact on offenders and its effectiveness in assisting recently released prisoners to gain and retain employment.

6 30 Rehabilitation Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues The Corrective Services Act 2000 and the Corrective Services The Department administers programs such as the Family Support Regulation 200 recognise the culturally specific needs of Program, Elders Visits Program, Murri Chaplains Program and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Worker Scheme and enhancement of program delivery to meet these needs. Ending Offending. This specific Indigenous alcohol awareness program operates at all centres that have a significant number of The new provisions also support existing innovations, such as Indigenous offenders. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander appropriate cultural meeting places in facilities and the placement of prisoners are eligible also to participate in all programs and prisoners in accommodation as close as practicable to their families courses that are offered to mainstream prisoners. in accordance with recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The new Capricornia Correctional In March 2000, a workshop for Indigenous stakeholders was held Centre design includes a Murri Meeting Place where Aboriginal and at Townsville Correctional Centre to look at ways of improving Torres Strait Islander offenders and outside stakeholders are able to services to Murri prisoners. The purpose of the workshop was to hold cultural and educational events. gain support from all agencies to ensure they did not work in isolation from each other. During the past 2 months, there have been approximately,00 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in secure custody in In the budget, the Department allocated $0.6 million Queensland at any given time. Approximately half of this for the development and implementation of the Indigenous Sex number is incarcerated at the Townsville and Lotus Glen Offender Treatment Program (ISOTP) at the Townsville Correctional Centres in the north of the State. Correctional Centre. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit and the management team of the Townsville Correctional Centre It is apparent, therefore, that the northern centres should place worked closely together to ensure the program commenced as per extra emphasis on ensuring they address specific needs of this funding timeframes. It is expected that a preliminary evaluation offender group in relation to support and rehabilitation of the process will be conducted in March programs. The Department employs a number of Indigenous support officers and contracts outside agencies to provide the A peer support system for Indigenous prisoners also has been culturally appropriate support needed by this large offender established at Townsville Correctional Centre to help identify population. and assist offenders who may be at risk of self-harm. Eleven Indigenous offenders have completed training to provide support and immediate referral to professional staff of those deemed to be at risk. The prisoners training included suicide awareness, reading body language, cultural awareness and the importance of being leaders and role models to other prisoners. Program participants wear a distinctive badge on their clothing identifying them as being part of the peer support program. REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENOUS PRISONERS The Indigenous dance group at Brisbane Womens performs for National Aboriginal Islander Day of Celebrations. 77% 23% Balance of Population Indigenous Prisoners

7 Rehabilitation 3 DEATH OF INDIGENOUS PRISONERS Natural 3 (0.28%) (0.09%) Unnatural (0.09%) AVERAGE INDIGENOUS OFFENDER NUMBERS UNDER COMMUNITY SUPERVISION (0.8%) Left to right: Alieda Mast, Correctional Supervisor; Ken Wano, Senior Advisor, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit; Darryl Smallwood, Correctional Officer; and Jamie Trevaskis, Correctional Officer at Townsville Correctional Centre. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STAFF While Indigenous people remain at 23 per cent of the prison population, higher levels of Indigenous staff are essential if cultural issues are to be addressed from within the correctional system. Accordingly, the Department has set a recruitment and retention target of 0 per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff by The Department launched its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention Strategy, Workforce Diversity and Understanding, in December AVERAGE INDIGENOUS PRISONER NUMBERS Accountability for the implementation of the strategy lies with executive directors and managers, although all officers are encouraged to contribute to the achievement of the plan. Its main objectives are to: establish clear departmental guidelines for the recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; achieve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation across all levels; retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in all employment categories; and Community Custody Open Custody Secure Custody ensure history and culture is shared and understood, to achieve a better outcome for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders and staff. One component of the strategy aimed at supporting Indigenous staff to obtain promotion and career satisfaction is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Middle Management Program. In the past year, 0 Indigenous staff members from around the State successfully completed the program and a number of these officers have moved into more senior positions. As at 30 June 200, the Department employed 08 permanent, 4 temporary and nine casual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. This included seven management, eight administration, 5 professional, 7 community corrections officers and 84 custodial corrections officers.