NCJ Number
61401
Date Published
1979
Length
41 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAIN BRANCHES--ESTABLISHMENTS, CORRECTIONAL PSYCHIATRY, AND TREATMENT AND TRAINING. THE ESTABLISHMENTS BRANCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WHICH ARE DIVIDED INTO CATEGORIES OF MAXIMUM SECURITY (ARMED PERIMETER GUARDS AROUND THE CLOCK), MEDIUM SECURITY (TIGHT SECURITY AT NIGHT AND LIMITED SECURITY DURING THE DAY), AND MINIMUM SECURITY (NO PHYSICAL BARRIERS TO ESCAPE). IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER AUSTRALIAN STATES, WESTERN AUSTRALIA HAS A HIGH PROPORTION OF INMATES IN MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. THE CORRECTIONAL PSYCHIATRY BRANCH PROVIDES A CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE TO THOSE WHO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE DISPOSITION AND MANAGEMENT OF OFFENDERS AND A TREATMENT SERVICE WHICH HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY WITH THE INCREASE OF MENTALLY ILL PRISONERS. AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC IS MAINTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENTS'S CENTRAL OFFICE FOR PROBATIONERS AND PAROLEES. THE TREATMENT AND TRAINING BRANCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A DIVERSITY OF FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE WELFARE AND TREATMENT OF INMATES AND THE SELECTION AND TRAINING OF PRISON OFFICERS, WITH SIX SECTIONS: SOCIAL WORK AND WELFARE, SOCIAL WORK STUDENT UNIT, EDUCATION SERVICES, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, RESEARCH LIBRARY, AND PLANNING AND RESEARCH. SPECIAL SERVICES CONSIST OF RECREATION PROGRAMS, INMATE ASSESSMENT AND ORIENTATION, LEAVES OF ABSENCE FROM PRISON (WORK RELEASE, HOME LEAVE, TREATMENT LEAVE, COMPASSIONATE LEAVE, AND VOLUNTARY WORK), AND THE DRIVING INSTRUCTION PROGRAM. A TABLE IS PROVIDED TO DESCRIBE EACH FACILITY'S LOCATION, PHYSICAL PLANT, AND INMATE PROGRAMS. AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS ALSO INCLUDED. (RCB)