Answers Tabled | Yatala Labour Prison
17/03/2015
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Correctional Services a question on the subject of Yatala Labour Prison.
Leave granted.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: Members will be aware that an article in The Advertiser today revealed that a prominent psychiatrist, Dr Craig Raeside, has sent an email to lawyers stating that he is no longer willing to assess prisoners at Yatala Labour Prison; indeed, he sees it as ‘a fruitless exercise’.
Morry Bailes, President of the SA Law Society, would seem to agree, from the article, that overcrowding and prisoners being moved from facility to facility largely contributes to this problem. My questions are:
1.Does the minister agree that there are problems with Yatala?
2.Does the minister agree that a lack of access to psychiatric assessment and support could possibly entrammel prisoner’s rehabilitation and support willingness to reoffend, and end up resulting in costly intervention?
3.Has the minister corresponded with Dr Raeside on this issue?
4.Given that the speech we just heard from His Excellency the Governor specifically mentioned mental health as a priority, is this issue a priority for the government?
5.What is the minister doing to improve this situation at Yatala Labour Prison?
The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) ( 16:51 ): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions. I will refer those to the appropriate minister in another place and bring back a response.
In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT ( 6 May 2014 ) (First Session).
The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) : The Minister for Correctional Services has been advised:
1. Yatala Labour Prison is a complex and busy high security prison. The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) and I have acknowledged that the issues concerning access, arising from professional visitors such as lawyers and others like Dr Raeside, is an area that we are committed to improving, at Yatala Labou r Prison and all other prisons.
A Ministerial Taskforce has been established and is working to progress a number of targeted improvement initiatives. The Taskforce was established in May 2013. I am a member of this Taskforce, other members include:
• The Chief Executive , Department for Correctional Services;
• The Chief Information Officer;
• Executive level representation from the Courts Administration Authority;
• Executive level representative from the Law Society;
• Executive level representative from the Legal Services Commission; and
• The Chief Justice and Chief Magistrate.
The Taskforce understands and recognises that cooperation and good communication are key to an efficient criminal justice system. As a result, a number of short and long term solutions are currently being implemented to address the issue of professional visits.
The Taskforce has established 5 key deliverables, including:
• establishing a cross agency committee;
• implementing an electronic professional visits booking system;
• developing a guide to advise professional visitors of processes to assist in entering a prison;
• reviewing the current visit centres; and
• In addition, an audio-visual and telephone link system will be piloted to improve professional visitor access their client.
2. I do not agree that there is a lack of access to psychological services for prisoners. In fact, the DCS has a range of services for prisoners experiencing mental health issues or who are at risk of self-harm. These services are provided by Forensic Mental Health Services, SA Prison Health Service, Disability SA, the prison High Risk Assessment Team, and Departmental Psychologists.
DCS continues to develop crisis intervention and support strategies to better manage prisoners with mental health needs. This includes the implementation of a new procedure for the management of prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm; the development and implementation of a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy program for women with severe borderline personality disorders, improved liaison with Forensic Mental Health Services and the commissioning of a high dependency unit for female prisoners at Port Augusta Prison.
Departmental Psychologists provide specialist assessment services utilising internationally recognised best practice principles. They work collaboratively with other service providers, such as the SA Prison Health Service and Forensic Mental Health Services to provide intervention and specialised assessments for offenders who are affected by substance abuse and/or personality and mental health disorders.
Psychologists are also involved in High Risk Assessment Team meetings and Behavioural Management Forums. This involvement is a multi-disciplinary approach that facilitates urgent referrals for prisoners requiring immediate treatment, crisis intervention and specialised management strategies. The role of the psychologist attached to the High Risk Assessment Teams is to provide an opportunity for specialist assessment and advice to further guide behavior modification and risk management strategies.
3. I can advise that I met with Dr Raeside on 30 June 2014 to discuss his concerns. In addition, the DCS’ Executive Director Offender Development also met with Dr Raeside, on 2 May 2014, to discuss improved professional visitor access to prisoners.
4. This Government is committed to delivering programs that promote improved health and mental health. Target 86 of the SA Strategic Plan is for this State to have equal or lower than the Australian average for psychological disease.
5. Yatala Labour Prison is a multipurpose facility accommodating high, medium and low security prisoners, including sentenced prisoners and remandees. In recent years, Yatala has undergone significant infrastructure upgrades, including the commissioning of a new Gatehouse and visit reception centre. The new Gatehouse incorporates improved access control systems, including person and baggage screening systems using walk through metal detectors and baggage x-ray units.
Construction has also commenced at Yatala Labour Prison for a 26 bed High Dependency Unit and a new Health Centre. These are scheduled to be completed by mid to late 2015.
The High Dependency Unit will provide inpatient mental health assessment and treatment services for prisoners presenting with multiple and complex needs. The new Health Centre will meet the primary health care needs of prisoners.
