New policy to safeguard prisoners who need protection

Media release
The Department of Justice expects to reduce the number of prisoners placed in protective custody under a new policy, without compromising their safety or the security of the State’s prisons.
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The population of protection prisoners has increased over the past decade for a combination of reasons, including greater complexities among the prisoner cohort.

A policy overhaul implemented over the past six months provides a clear framework for referrals, assessment and review processes for determining if prisoners need protection from others.

The policy includes establishment of a Protection Multi-Disciplinary Team at each prison which accommodates protection prisoners.

The teams will assess all new prisoner referrals and review the status of those already placed under protection.

The policy’s performance will be reviewed next year.

The Department supports eight out of 10 recommendations in a report about protection prisoners by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services. Five of the recommendations are reflected in current practices or projects.

The Inspector acknowledges in his overview that the Department is genuinely committed to ensuring the safety of prisoners who require protection.

“As the report rightly points out, prisons have a duty of care to safeguard all prisoners,” Acting Commissioner for Corrective Services Gary Budge said.

“We are committed to safety and security of all prisoners in our care and provide protection placement options to those who need them,” he said.

In seeking to provide services in prisons, the Department does not distinguish between protection and mainstream prisoners.
However, keeping prisoners safely in protective custody may inadvertently limit their access to employment opportunities, rehabilitative programs and education.

Opportunities are made available for protection prisoners within their units where possible and extra precaution is taken when escorting them to services outside of protection precincts.

“Every effort is made to provide protection prisoners with the same opportunities as mainstream prisoners where it is safe to do so,” Acting Commissioner Budge said.

“In regard to parole denials, completion of treatment programs is just one among many factors determining decisions by the independent Prisoners Review Board,” he said.

“We also reject claims in the Inspector’s report that protection prisoners are more prone to mental health problems – this is not supported by Department data.”