Page 5211 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990
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In the interim I have been most concerned at the recent reports of disturbances in gaols in New South Wales following the implementation of more restrictive policies in regard to prisoners' personal property in cells. The problem of overcrowding in New South Wales has also been recognised for some time, as has the limited access by prisoners to educational programs, work skill development and other facilities. With this in mind I requested several months ago that a review of ACT prisoners be carried out in order to ascertain whether they were experiencing any discriminatory treatment. I also wanted more information on their general welfare and conditions, particularly those such as the psychiatrically disturbed.
In recent months officers in ACT Adult Corrective Services have interviewed nearly all ACT prisoners in the Goulburn, Long Bay, Mulawa, Mannus and Cooma gaols. I am happy to report that an overwhelming majority of those interviewed said that they felt there was no discrimination against them, although they were concerned about the threat of assault and about their rights. Much useful information was gathered as to their conditions and their access to educational programs, counselling, legal services and so on. Some problems have been identified, largely in relation to adequate pre-release contact by New South Wales or ACT authorities and concerns with overcrowding in some facilities.
ACT Corrective Services is also pursuing discussions with New South Wales authorities not only with a view to having a higher proportion of ACT prisoners located in gaols closest to the ACT, but also in order to have available more regular and detailed information on our prisoners. In this way we can monitor their progress more closely and make plans for the future on the basis of accurate information. Data available to us, as at 17 October, suggested that slightly fewer than one-third of ACT prisoners were in the lowest two security classifications and thus possible candidates for pre-release programs, although of these only a small number were in the minimum classification and thus eligible for the New South Wales work release program. In addition, slightly more than half of all ACT prisoners at that time had less than 12 months to serve before their earliest possible release date. Clearly, given such numbers, the possibility of pre-release programs merits closer investigation in the ACT.
However, before a final determination can be made as to the most appropriate form for these programs to take, for example, work release in association with home detention or accommodation in an appropriate minimum security institution in the ACT, several important considerations must be closely examined. These are: eligibility criteria, including family circumstances; effective assessment procedures; attitudes of our community and of sentencing authorities; appropriate legislation;
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