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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-11-15 Daily Xml
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Prisoner Support and Treatment

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (23 June 2016).

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety): I am advised:

1. The Department for Correctional Services is committed to providing opportunities for prisoners to undertake general health and education programs that provide them with the opportunity to prevent chronic health conditions.

Health Services available to prisoners are provided through Forensic Mental Health Services, SA Prison Health Service (SAPHS), Disability SA, the Department’s High Risk Assessment Teams and departmental psychologists.

SAPHS provides health care to prisoners within state managed prisons, they provide a primary healthcare model which includes a focus on chronic disease management in line with services that would normally be provided in the community.

Most prisons also have health expos and in reach programs, in which outside organisations come into the prisons to promote a wellness model of health.

The department partners with a number of agencies and community drug and alcohol services to help address dependence issues. This includes the Drug and Alcohol Services SA, Offender Aid and Rehabilitation Services and the Aboriginal Sobriety Group. In addition, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous have regular meetings set up in a number of prisons across the state.

QuitSkills mentor training is delivered by the Cancer Council, with training occurring at Port Lincoln Prison, Port Augusta Prison, the Adelaide Remand Centre, Yatala Labour Prison, and Mobilong Prison. Further to this, prisoners have access to a free 12-week Nicotine Replacement Therapy program funded by SA Health.

The department offers the pilot Therapeutic Community program, currently trialling at Cadell Training Centre, a structured environment in which residents work together to understand their past substance abuse issues, and to develop ways to change their thinking and behaviour to work towards a goal of developing a healthy and fulfilling life without drugs or alcohol.

2. I am very concerned that people with mental illness and substance abuse issues are overrepresented in our corrections system. This issue is not limited to South Australia. Prisoners with mental health and substance abuse issues are overrepresented within corrections systems within Australia as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Despite the challenges, the department remains committed to addressing the needs of prisoners identified as suffering from mental illness and those identified as having substance abuse issues.

All prisoners, on entering the prison system, are appropriately assessed in conjunction with the SA Prison Health Service (SAPHS) and information from South Australia Police, to determine their risk and needs. Issues such as mental health, drug and alcohol, and risk of suicide or self-harm are reviewed during the admission process, enabling appropriate supports and accommodation to be provided to prisoners.

Prisoners identified during this process as having mental illness and/or substance abuse issues are provided with appropriate supports.

These services can be provided by Forensic Mental Health Services, SAPHS, Disability SA, the prison High Risk Assessment Teams, and departmental social workers and psychologists.

SAPHS provides support to prisoners with substance withdrawal as well as providing a Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) program within all prisons.

Forensic Mental Health Service, provides specialist psychiatry services within prisons with support from SAPHS that provides day to day primary mental health care to prisoners within state managed prisons.

Psychological services provided by the department have a priority focus on the assessment of prisoners and the provision of crisis intervention and support services.

If there is further cause for concern, prisoners can be transferred to the nearest hospital for mental health assessment. If a prisoner is detained under the Mental Health Act 2009, they are moved to a mental health facility. This is a decision for health professionals.

Over recent years the department has introduced a number of accommodation units that are specifically suited to prisoners with certain health and mental health needs.

In 2014-15, a 20 bed secure unit was completed at Adelaide Women’s Prison to accommodate high risk, high needs female prisoners with complex behavioural and mental health needs. The women’s prison also introduced a program to assist women with Borderline Personality Disorder.

In 2015-16, the High Dependency Unit and the new Health Centre at Yatala Labour Prison were completed. The High Dependency Unit provides inpatient mental health assessment and treatment services (and a continuum of care), for prisoners presenting with multiple and complex needs.

The department continues to strive to ensure access and inclusion for prisoners with a disability, ensuring this is reflected in programs and strategies, such as:

The department’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, which is aligned with the National Disability Strategy and the Attorney-General’s Disability Justice Plan;

A Memorandum of Administrative Arrangement has been established with Disability SA;

The SBC-me program has been introduced to target sex offenders identified as having a mild to borderline level of intellectual disability or cognitive deficit; and

The Department run Special Needs Program in Repay SA.

3. I am advised that on admission to prison, all prisoners are reviewed within 24 hours by a nurse from SAPHS. Prisoners on medications are reviewed by a medical practitioner and depending on the prisoner's clinical requirements continued on those medications and additional medicines commenced as clinically appropriate.

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