Page 2456 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 August 2017
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AMC’s footprint while still ensuring that women remain accommodated separately from men. Risk assessments and planning for increased numbers of women are already well underway. In addition, ACT Corrective Services is undertaking a feasibility study into the future needs of the ACT’s prison population. The needs of women detainees, particularly with respect to accommodation, is the top priority of the feasibility study.
The rise in female detainee numbers is not unique to the ACT. Sadly, it is a national trend. Every jurisdiction in Australia is grappling with the same issue but all other jurisdictions have more than one adult prison to manage the increasing numbers. Data released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 8 June 2017 shows that the largest increases have been in remand, Indigenous and female detainees. This is also evident in data provided by the ACT to the report on government statistics.
Numerous factors have contributed to the rise in female detainee numbers. Canberra is a growing city; there are more people living here than ever before. We also have to keep in mind that we have a relatively small prison population, so when we talk about a big percentage increase, we may only be referring to a few more detainees. This is particularly the case for women.
I will now turn to programs available for female detainees. Women at the AMC have access to programs, employment opportunities and education to improve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism. Women can participate in life development programs like self-care skills for women, a Marymead program co-facilitated by ACT Corrective Services. This program has a strong focus on teaching women relaxation strategies to cope with stress. It also looks at mental health and physical health. ACT Corrective Services facilitates the out of the dark program, designed for women who have been victims of domestic and family abuse. This 14-hour program helps participants identify issues around domestic and family violence as well as identifying the options and supports available.
If appropriate, women in the AMC have access to SHINE for Kids, a program which facilitates access to their children. Other programs available to women include cognitive self-change, which is targeted to medium to high-risk offenders aiming to reduce reoffending. Women can access the sober driver program if they have certain types of drink-driving offences and SMART—self management and recovery training—to address behaviours such as alcohol and other drug use.
There are a growing number of employment opportunities for women at the AMC due to the government’s investment in prison industries. Women will be able to work in the newly completed bakery. The new recycling bay provides jobs for women. Women and men both continue to be employed within their units as cleaners, in laundry roles and in cleaning and maintenance roles within other buildings in the AMC.
Vocational education programs in fields such as hairdressing, hospitality, business services, community services, information and communication technology, waste recycling and sustainability, culture and land management, first aid, and cleaning
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