Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Report on suicides in Victorian prisons tabled

The Minister for Corrections, Bill McGrath, has tabled a report into suicide and self harm in Victoria’s prisons in Parliament.

A special Steering Committee has been established to oversee an implementation action plan.

The Review of Suicide and Self Harm in Victorian Prisons, the final report of a special taskforce commissioned in September 1998, examines incidents of suicide at four prisons between August 1997 and October 1998.

The taskforce investigation took 24 submissions from key industry and interested parties, in a process that was accountable and transparent.

The taskforce has concluded that further improvements could be made to minimise the risk of suicide in prisons and has accordingly presented 17 key recommendations and a list of supporting recommendations.

"The Office of the Correctional Services Commissioner in Co-operation with the Steering Committee is well advanced in its consideration and implementation of the key recommendations, which include the establishment of a Corrections Health Advisory Board," the Minister said.

The Advisory Board will be established immediately and will report to Mr McGrath on more effective methods for reducing the incidence of self-harm by prisoners.

Improved access for correctional managers to information collected from pre-sentence to the point of incarceration is a crucial factor in risk assessment.

To that end the Office of the Correctional Services Commissioner has enhanced the Prisoner Information Management System to identify the level of risk posed by a prisoner being transferred from one facility to another.

Other issues relating to the report include:

· $650,000 for new suicide and self-harm prevention initiatives, including employment of additional psychiatric nursing staff, the establishment of a special unit for young offenders held on remand, additional training for staff in all prisons to enhance their skills in identifying and managing prisoners at risk, and parenting skills training for women prisoners.

· $1.5 million in the 1999/2000 budget for the creation of an additional 10-bed Acute Assessment Unit.

· Development of a joint data system between the Office of the Correctional Services Commissioner and Victoria Police.