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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for prisoners (australia)
12 results foundAuthor: Giles, Margaret Title: Investment in Human Capital During Incarceration and Employment Prospects of Prisoners Summary: Using the 2003 Survey of Prisoners in Western Australia, this paper examines the decision of prisoners to invest in education/training during their prison term and the potential labor market outcomes of this investment. The results suggest that prisoners use education/training to improve their skills in preparation for release from prison. Details: Bonn: IZA (Institute for the Study of Labor), 2009. 34p. Source: Discussion papers; 4582 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 117314 Keywords: Correctional Education (Australia)Ex-Offenders (Employment)Prisoners (Australia)Vocational Education and Training (Australia) |
Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: The Health of Australia's Prisoners 2009 Summary: This report is the culmination of several years' development of national indicators in relation to prisoner health inAustralia. The report presents information on the health of prisoners at the time of entry to prisons, their use of health services while in prison as well as some information on the prison environment. Details: Canberra: AIHW, 2010. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118577 Keywords: Health Care, PrisonersMedical CareMental Health, InmatesMentally Ill Offenders (Australia)Prisoners (Australia) |
Author: Jackson, Martin Title: Acquired Brain Injury in the Victorian Prison System Summary: This research set out to gain an understanding of the prevalence of acquired brain injury (ABI) among Victorian prisoners and to test an ABI screening tool to assist with identification of brain injury in this population. The study employed a three-stage process of initial screening, clinical interview and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. One hundred and ten adult male prisoners and 86 adult female prisoners took part in the initial screen, with 74 males and 43 females completing the neuropsychological assessment. Individuals with an ABI appear to be substantially overrepresented in the Victorian prison population. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment indicated that 42 per cent of male prisoners and 33 per cent of female prisoners from Stage Three had an ABI. This compares with an estimated prevalence of ABI among the general Australian population of two per cent (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007). Of prisoners assessed as having an ABI, six per cent of males and seven per cent of females were rated as having a severe ABI, which is consistent with figures for the general population. Drug and alcohol use appeared to be the main cause of ABI among prisoners, while in the general population traumatic head injury is the most common cause. Prisoners also reported substantially higher rates of drug and alcohol use than are typically reported in the community, as well high rates of co-morbid psychiatric conditions. These findings point to the need for a coordinated and multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the therapeutic needs of prisoners with an ABI. The nature of cognitive deficits identified in the current study also suggests that prisoners with a severe ABI are likely to have difficulty functioning in a prison environment, and may require specific assistance from correctional staff as well as altered approaches to the delivery of offending behaviour programs. In light of the study findings, Corrections Victoria is currently developing a comprehensive service model and has also implemented a specialist, multifocused pilot across part of the prison and community correctional service to work with offenders with an ABI. Details: Melbourne: Victoria Department of Justice, 2011. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Corrections Research Paper Series, Paper No. 04: Accessed July 1, 2011 at: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/DOJ+Internet/resources/9/b/9b711080468f099b99d59d4d58beb1dd/Acquired_Brain_Injury_in_the_Victorian_Prison_System.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/DOJ+Internet/resources/9/b/9b711080468f099b99d59d4d58beb1dd/Acquired_Brain_Injury_in_the_Victorian_Prison_System.pdf Shelf Number: 121945 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AdditionDrug OffendersHealth CareInmatesMental Health ServicesPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Rushworth, Nick Title: Policy Paper: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: People with an Acquired Brain Injury and the Criminal Justice System Summary: Local and international surveys both of head injuries with loss of consciousness and chronic substance abuse in adult corrections and juvenile justice indicate very high rates of acquired brain injury (ABI). As many as 60 per cent of offenders report histories of ABI. This rate would account for 17,900 - out of 29,700 - adult prisoners in Australia. This paper examines the research evidence for an association between ABI and subsequent, sometimes violent, offending. While problems people may experience with thinking and behaviour the result of their ABI place them at the highest risk of re-offending and re-incarceration, the disability receives low recognition throughout the criminal justice system. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) claims as one of its "current commitments" under the National Disability Strategy ―court diversion programs for people with disability…designed to address the mental health or disability needs of defendants and their offending behaviour. This paper demonstrates that people with an ABI are ordinarily ineligible for such programs due to restrictive legislation or access criteria. Whether in courts' considerations of granting bail or “fitness to be tried”, or in sentencing, or referral to specialist tribunals of “therapeutic jurisprudence”, programs of diversion from the criminal justice system are narrowly targeted, commonly at people with an intellectual disability or mental illness. "While these population groups certainly face significant problems in the criminal justice system and ought to be priorities for action, the pre-occupation with these groups to date must not be allowed to obscure the equally serious problems facing other impairment groups, including persons who are deaf, deafblind, persons with severe communication impairments, and persons with acquired brain injury." Details: Ryde, NSW: Brain Injury Australia, 2011. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2011 at: http://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/docs/CJSpolicypaperFINAL.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/docs/CJSpolicypaperFINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 122465 Keywords: Adults with DisabilitiesBrain InjuriesMental Health ProgramsPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Kevin, Maria Title: Addressing Prisoner Drug Use: Prevalence, Nature and Context. 3rd Collection of a Biennial Survey of Prisoners in New South Wales Summary: The extent and severity of drug-related problems among inmate populations presents significant challenges to correctional administrators. Inmates presenting with drug problems are among the most difficult to care for and manage. The current findings suggest an encouraging trend in the rate of drug-related offending and drug-related morbidity in the NSW inmate population. Despite an increase in the NSW prison population in 2003, there has been a decrease in drug-related offending and heavy-end drug use by inmates both before and during imprisonment. Encouragingly, inmates also indicated a greater awareness of the risks associated with drug use when compared with the findings of prior collections in this series. Even though this trend is positive, the levels of drug-related morbidity remain sufficiently high to maintain this as a priority area. The findings from this data collection series provide factual data to improve policy and strategy for this high need and high risk population. This data collection also provides a valuable and unique insight into prison life that can be used in the development of further effective management and rehabilitation programs. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Department of Corrective Services, 2005. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Publication No. 47: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://csa.intersearch.com.au/csajspui/bitstream/10627/122/2/RP047.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Australia URL: http://csa.intersearch.com.au/csajspui/bitstream/10627/122/2/RP047.pdf Shelf Number: 108596 Keywords: Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug Addiction and CrimeDrug OffendersInmatesPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Begg, Fiona Title: Serving Time on the Outside: A Survey of Visitors to Correctional Centres in the Wacol Region, Queensland Summary: In researching the issues and experiences of families of prisoners or visitors to correctional centres (prisons) in Australia it would appear that this has been a relatively limited research area to date. However with an average of 21 138 people held each day in Australian prisons one is talking about a considerable number of individuals and families throughout this country who are directly affected by the issue of imprisonment. “ For most inmates who face a prison term, their families will also begin a sentence: of physical, social, and psychological hardship. They will do so, in most instances, with a minimum of resources to draw upon and with little power to meet the additional demands on their trouble-plagued lives” (Jorgensen, Hernandez and Warren (1986:47) ACRO is a social justice organisation committed to the development of a safe and caring society. As such the organisation has been involved in delivering support services to prisoners and their families for over thirty years. In 1988 the organisation conducted surveys with visitors to the now closed and somewhat infamous Boggo Rd Goal as part of a submission process for a government review into the prisons system of the day. Four hundred and eighty (480) respondents completed surveys. A wide range of recommendations were included in the subsequent report, including a complete overhaul of the manner and methods by which prisons were run and the ways in which prisoners and their families were treated. Significant changes were introduced across a wide range of areas in corrections in this State as a result of that inquiry. In 2001 ACRO surveyed visitors to correctional centres in the Wacol area of Queensland. A total of eighty four (84) respondents completed the questionnaire. Surveys were undertaken at the ACRO Family Centre with persons visiting the following correctional centres : · Arthur Gorrie Remand and Reception Centre · Wolston Correctional Centre · Brisbane Womens Correctional Centre · Sir David Longland Correctional Centre (SDL) · Moreton B (since closed) This Report provides a snapshot of the experience of persons visiting correctional centres in the Wacol region; a region with the largest concentration of correctional centres in the State. In addition it provides background information about visitors such as their age, gender, income base and housing situation, enabling a general profile to be drawn. Added to this, the Report also provides a comparative analysis from survey work conducted with the same client group (persons visiting prison) in 1988. It is clear from the results of the present survey that for families/visitors of prisoners a number of key issues remain unaddressed, issues which cause significant levels of difficulty and stress for people already in a difficult and stressful situation. It is the intention of this Report to provide a window for persons involved in visiting a correctional centre to be able to view that experience in the context of being one of a significant number of people undergoing that experience; to reflect their views and opinions about their experiences, and for persons who have never experienced the corrections system directly to gain some insight as to the experience of visitors. Details: Lutwyche, Queensland: ACRO Australian Community Safety & Research Organisation Incorporated, 2002. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2011 at: http://www.acro.com.au/Reports/Serving%20Time%20Outside.pdf Year: 2002 Country: Australia URL: http://www.acro.com.au/Reports/Serving%20Time%20Outside.pdf Shelf Number: 122653 Keywords: Families of InmatesPrison VisitsPrisoners (Australia)Visitation |
Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: The Health of Ausstralia's Prisoners 2010 Summary: The health of Australia’s prisoners 2010 is the second report relating to the National Prisoner Health Indicators, which were developed to help monitor the health of prisoners, and to inform and evaluate the planning, delivery and quality of prisoner health services. The indicators presented in this report are aligned to the National Health Performance Framework. The results in this second report build on the baseline information from the first National Prisoner Health Census, and this time include some state and territory comparisons. Prisoners in Australia have high rates of mental health related issues. In 2010, 31% of prison entrants reported having ever been told that they had a mental health illness and 16% of prison entrants reported that they were currently taking mental health related medication. On entry to prison, almost one-fifth of prison entrants were referred to the prison mental health services for observation and further assessment following the reception assessment. Almost 1 in 10 prisoners in custody visited the clinic for a psychological or mental health issue, and 1 in 5 prisoners in custody was taking mental health related medication. When looking at the type of medication, 18% of all repeat medication was for depression/mood stabilisers, 9% for antipsychotics, 2% for anti-anxiety medication and 1% for sleep disturbance. Prison entrants in Australia reported previously engaging in various risky health behaviours, such as smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol at extreme levels and using illicit drugs. Four in five prison entrants reported being a current smoker, and three in four reported being a daily smoker. More than half of prison entrants reported drinking alcohol at levels that placed them at risk of alcohol-related harm, while less than twenty per cent reported that they did not drink. Further, two-thirds of prison entrants reported illicit drug use in the previous 12 months. These rates are all substantially higher than in the general community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prison entrants were significantly over-represented in the entrant’s sample, with 43% being Indigenous, compared with 2.5% of the general population. Indigenous prison entrants reported poorer health behaviours than non-Indigenous prison entrants, and were more likely to be current smokers (89% compared with 79%) and to have consumed alcohol at levels considered to place them at risk of alcohol-related harm (73% compared with 48%) in the previous 12 months. However, Indigenous prison entrants reported lower level of mental health related issues (23% compared with 38%), use of mental health medication upon entry to prison (12% compared with 19%), and chronic conditions. Details: Canberra: AIHW, 2011. 206p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2011 at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420111&tab=2 Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737420111&tab=2 Shelf Number: 123007 Keywords: Medical CareMental Health ServicesMentally Ill OffendersPrison Health CarePrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Stoové, Mark Title: External Component of the Evaluation of Drug Policies and Services and their Subsequent Effects on Prisoners and Staff within the Alexander Maconochie Centre Summary: Meeting the health and wellbeing needs of our detainees presents distinct challenges. Most of our detainees have complex health histories - 91 percent of surveyed inmates reported a lifetime use of illicit drugs, with two-thirds of those having a heroin addiction. Three quarters of respondents reported that their current prison sentence was related to drugs and 79 per cent reported that they were affected by drugs when they committed the relevant offence. While the Report acknowledges that the ACT Corrections Health Program and Forensic Mental Health counselling services are providing effective services and activities for the inmates, it also demonstrates that there is more work to be done. Details: Melbourne: Burnet Institute, 2011. 197p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2011 at: http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sendfile&ft=p&fid=1302161190&sid= Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sendfile&ft=p&fid=1302161190&sid= Shelf Number: 123367 Keywords: Drug Abuse TreatmentDrug OffendersDrug PoliciesPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Ombudsman SA (South Australia) Title: An Audit of Prisoner Complaint Handling in the South Australian Department for Correctional Services Summary: The evidence gathered in my audit indicates that the Department for Correctional Services complaint handling system is deficient in the key areas of accessibility, efficiency, fairness and accountability. The most positive aspects of the department’s current approach to complaints management is the work done in recent years to improve the circumstances of Aboriginal people in custody. This work provides a foundation upon which to build a stronger and more productive complaint handling system for all prisoners. Although custodial staff and managers may have the authority to deal with and resolve prisoner complaints in the first instance, I have formed the impression that in general terms, prisoners are not confident that custodial staff and managers are able to deal with and resolve many of their complaints at the local prison level. The findings of my audit support the view that the department’s complaint handling system is inefficient, and there is a distinct lack of consistency in the way in which complaints are dealt with at the local prison level and by the department. The audit report contains a number of recommendations under section 25(2)(b) of the Ombudsman Act to rectify or mitigate the effect of the deficiencies in the department’s complaints handling system. Details: Rundle Mall, SA: Ombudsman SA, 2012. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2012 at: http://www.ombudsman.sa.gov.au/An%20audit%20of%20prisoner%20complaint%20handling%20in%20the%20South%20Australian%20Department%20for%20Correctional%20Services.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ombudsman.sa.gov.au/An%20audit%20of%20prisoner%20complaint%20handling%20in%20the%20South%20Australian%20Department%20for%20Correctional%20Services.pdf Shelf Number: 125860 Keywords: Corrections OfficersCorrections TrainingPrison AdministrationPrison GuardsPrisoner ComplaintsPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Butler, Tony Title: Sexual Health and Behaviour of Queensland Prisoners with Queensland and New South Wales Comparisons Summary: This report presents the findings from the Queensland component of a National Health and Medical Research Council funded study of New South Wales and Queensland prisoners’ sexual health and behaviours. Comparisons of the Queensland and New South Wales components of this survey can be found in Appendix 1. Overall, 900 men and 134 women in Queensland prisons were surveyed in 2007–08 by computer-assisted telephone interview after random selection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an epidemiological survey of prisoners has been conducted via telephone. Most found the telephone approach acceptable, would do the survey again, and reported that they provided honest answers. The response rate among eligible prisoners was high at over 75%. The respondents About half the prisoners in the survey were aged 30 years or younger; men were aged from 18 to 78 years and women from 18 to 61 years. This is similar to the age of the general Queensland prisoner population. A quarter identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Education levels were low and few (14% men and 18% women) had post-school qualifications; 30% of men and 16% of women had not completed Year 10 or equivalent. The most common ‘most serious offences’ were for men assault (33%), property offences (17%) and sexual offences (15%), and for women assault (25%), property offences (19%) and homicide (19%). For 39% of men and 55% of women this was their first time in an adult prison. Over half of the men (56%) and 65% of women had been in prison (this time) for less than a year, but 17% of men and 5% of women had been in prison for more than 10 years. Sexuality and relationships ■ Most men (95%) self-identified as heterosexual and were attracted exclusively or mostly to women (96%) whereas 63% of women identified as heterosexual and 75% were attracted exclusively or mostly to men. Almost 3 in 10 women (28%) identified as bisexual. ■ Half the men in the sample had had inter-course for the first time before they turned 15 (16 for women). This is younger than in the general community (18 for men and 19 for women). ■ The median lifetime number of opposite-sex sexual partners (for any form of sex, not just intercourse) was 23 for men and 10 for women with over 1000 partners reported for some men and women. One quarter of men (25%) and 12% of women reported over 50 lifetime opposite-sex sexual partners. ■ Around three-quarters of men and women were in regular relationships before coming into prison with around a third of those in a relationship reporting that imprisonment had resulted in the relationship ending. ■ One third of men had ever paid for sex; 10% of men and 21% of women had been paid for sex. Reproductive experiences ■ Most women in the sample (84%) had been pregnant. The median age of first pregnancy was 18 years, and the women had had an average of 2.3 children. ■ Around one quarter of women reported having difficulty getting pregnant, which is high for a population whose average age is around 30 years. Sexual forcing ■ Three-fifths of women prisoners (compared with 21% in an Australian community survey) had been forced or frightened into some sort of sexual activity at some time in their lives. The median number of episodes of forced sexual activity was 2, with some women reporting up to 500 events. This highlights the exposure of women in this population to high levels of violence and trauma. Sexual attitudes ■ Prisoners’ attitudes to statements on a range of sexual matters (e.g. explicit films, sex before marriage, abortion) were remarkably consistent with those expressed by the general community. However, male prisoners were more intolerant of male-to-male sex than men in the general community. Knowledge of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) ■ Prisoners’ knowledge of STIs and their consequences was good, and for some of the questions it was better than the general community. Prison sex and physical assault ■ Nine per cent of men and 27% of women had engaged in some form of sexual contact (including kissing or touching) with another (same-sex) prisoner. Most reported that this sexual contact was for pleasure and not for protection or as a trade for drugs. ■ While women were more likely to report engaging in sexual contact with another prisoner, men reported higher levels of self-masturbation in the past four weeks (median number of times masturbated for men 6, and for women 3). ■ There was a high level of support among men (88%) and women (74%) in favour of allowing overnight family/partner visits in prison. ■ One third of men and one fifth of women had been physically assaulted or attacked whilst in prison. ■ More than a third of men (37%) and 26% of women had worried about being sexually assaulted before coming into prison, but fewer (7%) were currently worried about this. ■ 8% of men and 6% of women had been threatened with sexual assault in prison, while 3% of men and 4% of women reported being actually forced to do something sexual they did not want. Queensland and New South Wales comparisons ■ Overall, Queensland and New South Wales prisoners were remarkably similar with regard to sexual health behaviours, sexual identity, past exposure to sexually transmissible infections (STIs), knowledge of STIs, and attitudes to sexual issues. ■ The level of sexual activity between inmates was not lower in Queensland prisons than in New South Wales prisons, where the policy of the NSW Department of Corrective Services is to provide condoms and dental dams to prisoners. Details: Perth and Sydney: National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales., 2010. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2013 at: http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/publications/R236.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/publications/R236.pdf Shelf Number: 129263 Keywords: Inmate Sexual BehaviorInmate Sexual HealthInmatesPrisoner HealthPrisoners (Australia) |
Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: Why is the NSW Prison Population Growing? Summary: Aim: To provide a preliminary analysis of the rapid rise in the NSW prison population from January 2013 to March 2014. Method: Descriptive analysis of court, crime, arrest and correctional data, and ARIMA modelling of prison trends. Results: The key factors responsible for the recent rise in the NSW prison population appear to be a higher rate of arrest for serious crime and an increase in the proportion of convicted offenders given a prison sentence. There is no evidence that prisoners during 2013 are spending longer in custody but there is evidence the length of stay in custody may increase over the coming year. If the current trend in inmate numbers continues, the NSW prison population will rise by another 17 per cent (i.e., to about 12,500 inmates) by March 2015. Conclusion: Early consideration should be given to measures that reduce the demand for prison accommodation and/or expand prison capacity. Keywords: prison, Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 95: Accessed May 15, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb95.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb95.pdf Shelf Number: 132355 Keywords: ImprisonmentIncarcerationInmatesPrisoners (Australia)Prisons Sentencing |
Author: Ogloff, James R.P. Title: Koori Prisoner Mental Health and Cognitive Function Study Summary: The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Monash University (CFBS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) were engaged by the Department of Justice to examine the mental health, cognitive functioning, and social and emotional wellbeing of Koori prisoners in Victoria. The study arose from the policies and priorities articulated by the original Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) released in 2000 to address Koori overrepresentation in the criminal justice system and the expanded AJA2 of 2006. The study was jointly overseen by Justice Health and the Koori Justice Unit. The project firstly sought to conduct a thorough assessment of needs from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners in Victoria, and secondly, to gain an understanding of the service gaps and needs from the perspective of key stakeholders in Victoria. To this end, the aims of the project were to: - Identify the Social and Emotional Well-Being (SEWB) strengths and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, including levels of psychological distress - Identify the nature and extent of mental illness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners and their associated needs- Assess the cognitive functioning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners and their associated needs- Identify barriers to accessing services and other potential gaps in meeting identified needs- Develop recommendations for improving current service systems and clinical practice Details: Clifton Hill, VIC: Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Monash University, 2013. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 31, 2014 at: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/07c438bf-63a6-49bb-8426-d7fd073808a6/koori_prisoner_mental_health.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/07c438bf-63a6-49bb-8426-d7fd073808a6/koori_prisoner_mental_health.pdf Shelf Number: 120181 Keywords: AboriginalsMedical CareMental Health ServicesMentally Ill OffendersPrisoners (Australia) |