Giz Watson MLC
Member for North Metropolitan Region
MEDIA RELEASE
Released Friday, February 05, 2010

New accommodation units for prison welcome but more action needed: Greens

Plans to reduce prison overcrowding by further increasing the number of prison beds is an improvement but not good enough, says Giz Watson.

“While more beds are urgently needed, there needs to be a focus on reducing the number of people, particularly young people, in prison,” Ms Watson said.

“The juvenile justice system is failing to divert juveniles from custody as often as it should,” she said.

“This has been pointed out by the Inspector of Custodial Services, the Auditor General, the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Commissioner for Children and Young People.

“I call on the Minister to improve the juvenile justice system and to reduce the pressure for more prison beds,” she said.

Note: In November 2009 the Chief Justice of Western Australia said in a speech that people who successfully completed Drug Court cost the State about $16,000 per year and had recidivism rates about one-third lower than those who served terms of imprisonment and cost the State about $100,000 per year.

1.Statistics showing the number of people in custody are published on the Department of Corrective Services’ website. On 17 January 2008 there were 3891 people in custody. A year later on 15 January 2009 there were 4051. This year on 14 January there were 4991 – an increase of 940 human beings in one year alone. Today’s announced increase is for an additional 640 prison beds.

2. The Department of Corrective Services’ latest annual report puts the cost per adult prisoner per day at $273.17. For juveniles the cost is $610.79 per person per day. 940 more prisoners x $273.17 (adult figure used) = $256 779.80 per day.

For further comment, contact Giz Watson on 08 9201 0582, Mobile: 0414 837 753