Making our prisons work - Community Development and Justice Standing Committee

 An Inquiry into the efficiency and effectiveness of prisoner education, training and employment strategies.

Inquiry Terms of Reference:

That the Committee will examine and report by 25 November 2010 on:

1. opportunities for work and the development of a workplace culture within WA prisons;

2. current rehabilitative programs and strategies in Western Australian prisons;

3. the impact of prison education and training programs on post-release outcomes and the data collection capacity within government to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs;

4. the gaps in post release outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders;

5. the legislative and community incentives and impediments to prisoner employment, education and training;

6. the integration of behaviour management, education and training strategies with real work opportunities;

7. the success of alternative strategies, nationally and internationally in reducing recidivism; and

8. any major issue that emerges that the Committee considers should be included in the Inquiry.

Submissions

The Committee invites written submissions on matters relating to the above terms of reference.

All submissions become the property of the Committee and will become public documents after tabling in the Legislative Assembly, unless the Committee resolves otherwise.

Submissions should have been lodged no later than Friday, 5 March 2010 and addressed to:

The Principal Research Officer Community Development and Justice Standing Committee Legislative Assembly Parliament House PERTH WA 6000

Submissions can be forwarded electronically to lacdjsc@parliament.wa.gov.au .

Further information regarding the presentation of submissions may be obtained by contacting Dr Brian Gordon, Principal Research Officer on (08) 9222 7492.

Functions and Powers of the Committee
The functions of the Committee are to review and report to the Assembly on: -

At the commencement of each Parliament and as often thereafter as the Speaker considers necessary, the Speaker will determine and table a schedule showing the portfolio responsibilities for each committee. Annual reports of government departments and authorities tabled in the Assembly will stand referred to the relevant committee for any inquiry the committee may make.

Whenever a committee receives or determines for itself fresh or amended terms of reference, the committee will forward them to each standing and select committee of the Assembly and Joint Committee of the Assembly and Council. The Speaker will announce them to the Assembly at the next opportunity and arrange for them to be place on the notice boards of the Assembly.

Areas of Responsibility of the Committee
The departments that fall within the portfolio responsibilities of the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee are:

• Indigenous Affairs
• Electoral Affairs
• Women’s Interests
• Disability Services
• Police
• Emergency Services
• Road Safety
• Sport and Recreation
• Culture and the Arts
• Attorney General
• Corrective Services
• Child Protection
• Community Services
• Seniors and Volunteering
• Local Government
• Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
• Environment
• Youth


link to source: HERE

The two docs below provide you with information from the: 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE's

TRANSCRIPT OF EVIDENCE TAKEN
AT PERTH
WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2010
SESSION ONE

TRANSCRIPT OF EVIDENCE TAKEN
AT PERTH
WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2010
SESSION TWO

Please read them to gain an insight to what is currently happening (or not) within WA's notorious prison system, one that is failing victims, offenders and the broader community.