Doj Annual Report 2001/02
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D E PA R T M E N T O F J U S T I C E Annual Report 2 0 01 / 2 0 02 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 To J A McGinty BA, BJuris (Hons), LLB, JP, MLA Attorney General Minister for Justice and Legal Affairs In accordance with Sections 62 and 66 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I hereby submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of the Department of Justice for the year ending 30 June 2002. This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985. Alan Piper Director General 31 August 2002 Department of Justice 141 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Telephone (08) 9264 1711 or 13 12 17 Justice Online: www.justice.wa.gov.au Page 1 CONTENTS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 CONTENTS Page no From the Director General 4 The year in brief 8 Financial highlights 15 Operating environment 16 Vision 17 Mission 17 The reform agenda 18 Key challenges 18 Our customers and stakeholders 19 A collaborative approach 20 Working with the community 22 Customer service 23 Corporate governance 24 An open and transparent department 24 Operating locations 27 The executive team 29 Corporate structure 32 Compliance reports 33 Enabling legislation 33 Compliance with legislation 33 Public sector standards and ethical codes 33 Advertising and marketing expenditure 35 Information statement 36 Freedom of Information 36 Report on Operations 37 Court Services 37 Crown Solicitor 42 Parliamentary Counsel 43 Community and Juvenile Justice and Prisons divisions 44 The Public Advocate 62 Public Trust Office 64 Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages 66 Corporate Support Areas 67 Aboriginal Policy and Services 67 Corporate Services 69 Public Affairs 72 Internal Audit 74 Page 2 CONTENTS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 CONTENTS continued Page no Corporate Compliance 75 Disability Services Plan 75 State Government plan for youth 76 Grievance resolution 76 Language and cultural diversity 76 Employee relations 77 Awards and agreements 77 Occupational safety and health 78 Equal opportunity and diversity 78 Employee welfare 79 Environmental programs 81 Contribution of volunteers 81 Key Performance Indicators 82 Audit opinion 83 Financial Statements 138 Audit opinion 139 Appendices 180 Contracts 180 Legislation administered 182 Publications 187 Page 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL In the past year, the Department of Justice has demonstrated its ability to achieve major change very quickly, and manage the impact effectively. In this, the first full year of the new State Government, the Department has reshaped its direction, supporting a large legislative program and taking on major initiatives to reduce imprisonment rates, improve services to women prisoners and radically shift the focus of community justice in this State. New initiatives and the culmination of longer-term projects mean there have been major, tangible results realised in the past year. Importantly, a rigorous program of community consultation and a commitment to transparency have also underpinned community support for the major changes within the justice system. The Department has also shifted its focus internally – from a largely management agenda to a true justice agenda. Employees across the organisation have met the challenges of a demanding program and, in most cases, reduced budgets with renewed commitment – and with a great deal of success. They have been given strong leadership from a management team marked by a high level of stability and cohesiveness. The only change to the senior management team throughout the year was the important appointment of Kate George, a respected lawyer with a track record in human rights, to give the Aboriginal Policy and Services branch a renewed sense of purpose and a new strategic focus. Reduced prisoner population A strong sense of direction and stability in management across the public prison system has also been achieved this year. Through legislative, policy and administrative changes, there has been an unprecedented fall of 1142 in prisoner numbers within the public system – the lowest prisoner population in public prisons that Western Australia has seen in a decade. An important factor was the State’s first private prison, Acacia, becoming fully operational and catering for 750 prisoners. Managing such a massive drop in prisoner numbers reversed the challenges of previous years when an escalating prisoner population was the issue. Instead, employees have tackled different adjustments required, including the closure of some units and staff transfers. Overcrowding is no longer an issue anywhere in the system, there were no major incidents at any prison during the year and no escapes from medium- or maximum-security facilities. The number of deaths in custody did not increase, but four apparent suicides mean this issue continues to be a serious concern. Reduced prisoner numbers has also meant more comprehensive and effective delivery of education and training, and treatment programs. At the same time, we have continued our prisons refurbishment program around the State including upgrading the regional prisons at Broome, Albany, Roebourne and Eastern Goldfields. The refurbishment program is another factor in reducing the levels of tension within prisons. Some of the improvements to the State’s prisons, and particularly to regional prisons, have been in response to reports from the Inspector of Custodial Services who completed his first full year, making six prisons inspections. Page 4 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL continued Despite the increased pressure on resources, the Department has welcomed the independent overview and has responded swiftly throughout the year to the Inspector’s comments and recommendations. Riverbank was also closed in August 2001, in response to the Inspector’s criticisms of the building and facilities. We have also redefined the involvement of prisoners in work outside the State’s prisons, actively engaging the community in suggesting work projects for all offenders. Our determination to find practical alternatives to traditional imprisonment that better serve the community and prisoners is evidenced in the very significant increase in community work opportunities, the decisions to close the minimum-security Pardelup prison facility and reopen it as a work camp, and to expand work camp opportunities for indigenous prisoners by establishing a new camp in consultation with Aboriginal elders in the Wyndham region. Improving services to women An important part of the Department’s Reform of Adult Justice in Western Australia is a radically new approach to women in the justice system. Women make up a small minority of people in prison (around 200 at year’s end) and on community orders. This makes them vulnerable to oversight and discrimination. The Department is tackling this issue directly and in the past year has commenced a thematic review of women in prisons, planned a new, low-security prison which will embrace a completely new approach to dealing with women offenders, and developed a series of programs specifically tailored for women. Intense focus on community justice The Department’s decision-making has been driven by a commitment to involving the community in a practical justice system that demands and facilitates reparation and community service. In a very short time-frame, community justice has become a more inherent part of the way the Department manages offenders with very tangible and long-term benefits for both the community and offenders. We have been responsive not only to new Government policy but to the community’s keenness to understand and participate in the changes to their justice system. Working with indigenous communities Although there have been real improvements in the way the Department has worked with Aboriginal communities and there has been a very pleasing fall in indigenous imprisonment (18 per cent overall and a 30 per cent fall in the number of female Aboriginal prisoners), Aboriginal justice issues remain some of the most important and most difficult confronting the Department. Our work this year shows we have recognised the need to do business differently. Typical of our approach has been our work with the Aboriginal communities at Warburton and Jamieson to better understand the effects of isolation from the Government services and support available to urbanised communities. Department representatives joined the Chairman of the Parole Board in visiting the communities in May 2002 and will visit them again in August 2002 to further discuss their difficulties and a range of possible community justice solutions. Page 5 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE • ANNUAL REPORT 2001/2002 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL continued As we move into 2002/03, we will maintain our commitment to the highest level of consultation with Aboriginal and, indeed, all local communities. We will build on the progress achieved in regional and remote communities to develop a method of justice delivery in which Aboriginal communities can be very active participants. Managing juveniles in custody Juveniles continue to be managed very well within the justice system. The daily average juvenile population in custody was 122 for the year. There were 169 participants in the supervised bail program in the metropolitan area and another 43 participants who were able to remain in their culturally familiar surroundings, close to family and other support at our remote bail facilities opened in December 2000 (Banana Well, West Kimberley) and July 2001 (Bell Springs, East Kimberley). The $4.3 million Rangeview Remand Centre redevelopment and expansion project was also commissioned during the year making it suitable for long-stay offenders. The investment provides upgraded accommodation, better education and training facilities and a video conferencing facility. Modernising courts We have continued to streamline processes within the courts system and use new technology to better serve customers.