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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1482 ..

Rehabilitation

All facilities offer a range of vocational and educational programs, as well as skills training through prison industries. Program provision is aimed at increasing the employment prospects of prisoners after their release. Special emphasis is placed on literacy and numeracy skills. In addition, many facilities offer programs focusing on improving general living skills in areas such as financial management, health and fitness, diet and nutrition.

A number of facilities offer programs aimed at reducing offending behaviour through cognitive skills training: these include anger management, harm reduction, conflict resolution and sex offender programs. Some facilities also have specific pre-release programs to facilitate re-integration of offenders into the community.

Drug Programs

All facilities offer drug and alcohol programs, including drug counselling and methadone maintenance programs. To deal with the related problem of HIV/AIDS many facilities also offer AIDS Awareness and Harm Minimisation Programs.

Mental Health Programs

All facilities have programs and staff to assist prisoners with mental health problems. Scope and emphasis of these programs vary between facilities depending on the prisoner population and its specific requirements. Some facilities also provide special programs for developmentally delayed prisoners.

(5)

The current cost per prisoner per day varies depending on the security classification of individual prisoners; it is:

$199.82 for a maximum security prisoner,

$178.96 for a medium security prisoner, and

$164.04 for a minimum security prisoner.

The average cost per prisoner per day for this financial year is $173.83.

(6)

The ACT does not fund programs in interstate prisons. Program provision is the responsibility of the NSW Department of Corrections, and forms part of the daily cost per prisoner paid by the ACT to NSW.

(7)

As part of the current Budget the Government has allocated $20,000 over the next four (4) years to fund Prisoners' Aid (ACT) Inc. This organisation, as well as providing counselling, provides financial support to assist families of prisoners visit their relatives in prison in NSW. Apart from this program, there are no designated programs available exclusively to families of prisoners.

(8)

The following support systems are in place to help returning ex-prisoners re-enter the ACT community:

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