Transcript Custodial Youth Justice

Welcome to
Ashley Youth Detention Centre
Presentation for South Pacific Council of Youth and Children’s Courts Conference
Bill Smith, Centre Manager and Jane Douglas, Assistant Centre Manager
Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
MINISTER
SECRETARY
Executive and
Portfolio Services
Human Services
and Housing Division
Corporate and
Strategic Support
Children's
Commissioner
Internal Audit
Community, Population
and Rural Health
Primary Health
Housing Tasmania
Population Health
Disability Services
Family, Child and
Youth Health
Oral Health
Services
Community Support
Children and
Families sub Division
Community
Partners
Hospital and
Ambulance Services
Mental Health
Services
Child and Family
Services
Child and Family
Service Centres
Care and Protection
Our Kids Program
Domestic Violence
Crisis Service
Adoption and
Information Service
Correctional
Health Services
Alcohol and
Drug Services
Youth Justice
Community
Youth Justice
Custodial
Youth Justice
(Ashley Youth
Detention Centre)
Ashley Youth Detention Centre
CENTRE
MANAGER
Assistant
Centre Manager
Manager
Professional Services
Operations
Manager
Psychologist
Program
Coordinator
Program
Officer
Coordinator
Case Management
Case
Manager
Technical
Programs
Officer
Conferencing
Coordinator
Sport &
Recreation
Officer
Caseworker
Medical
Practitioner
Clinical Nurse
Consultant
Operations
Supervisor
FSS
Manager
Training
Officer
Project
Officer
Operations
Coordinator
Team
Leader
Admissions
Officer
Youth
Worker
Admin Spt
Officer
Maint/Grounds
Officer
Site Services
Officer
Operations
Support Officer
Youth Worker
Casual Pool
Manager Business
Operations
Executive
Assistant
Admin
Officer
Stores
Officer
Catering
Officer
Ashley Youth Detention Centre
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Tasmania’s only youth custodial facility
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Gazetted as a Youth Detention Centre under the
Youth Justice Act 1997 in February 2000
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Young men and women aged 10 – 17 years inclusive
Remand and Detention orders
Practice shift from “welfare” to “restorative justice”
model
Changing Client Profile
$7m capital works project 1999 – 2001
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Ongoing capital works and service improvement
Our Purpose and Vision
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Purpose
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To provide secure care and custody for young men
and women who are remanded or sentenced by the
courts, through the provision of rehabilitative
programs in accordance with the principles of the
Youth Justice Act 1997.
Vision
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Working Together to Enhance a Young Person’s
return to the Community
Our Clients – Statistical Overview
2004/05
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There were 200 admissions to the Centre, an increase of
14% on 2003/04 and 35% on 2001/02
Remands accounted for 93% of all admissions
20% of young people admitted were aged 10 – 14 years
50% of young people admitted were aged 15 – 16 years
30% of young people admitted were 17 years or older
17% of admissions were females
Average length of stay on remand is 38 days
Average length of stay on detention is 96 days
Our Clients – Social Overview
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Young Aborigines continue to be over represented in
detention (6.5% of admissions)
 A large proportion of young people in custody are
affected by neglect or physical, emotional or sexual
abuse
 Many detainees have committed serious offences
involving violence
 Some suffer depression and emotional instability
 A significant number of young people in custody report
having attempted suicide or self harm
 Many leave school before year 8 and have low literacy
skills
Key Service Outcomes
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Provision of a high quality secure care environment for young people
Rehabilitation of young people in custody to enable them to become
more responsible citizens
Improved health and well being outcomes for young people in
custody
Improved capacity for reintegration of young people
Promotion of organisation and management structure that provides
“best practice” service for young people in custody
Promotion of the five principles of restorative justice:
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Responsibility
Rehabilitation
Reparation
Diversion
Deterrence
Case Management at Ashley
Youth Detention Centre
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Responsibility
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Developing a sense of responsibility is critical to learn
pro social behaviour
Rehabilitation
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Addressing the risk factors of re offending
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Cultural Factors
Unemployment
Literacy/Numeracy
Drug/Substance Abuse
Developmental stage
History of Child Abuse/Neglect/Domestic Violence
Mental Health Issues
Family Background
Case Management at Ashley
Youth Detention Centre
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Reparation
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Deterrence
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Repairing the damage that has been done through
engaging in programs and services and reducing the
risk of re offending
Once the young person is returned to the community,
deterring the incidence of re offending through
heightened social responsibility
Diversion
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Strengthening family, community and cultural
relationships to minimise the social impact of
detention
Programs at Ashley Youth Detention Centre
The “What Works” Model
TARGET FOR CHANGE
Direct Therapeutic Intervention for
Clinical Conditions
Change of Ideas and Behaviours that
influence Offending Behaviour
Direct Offending Focus
Responsivity
Psychoeducation
Identified Criminogenic Needs
Skills and Attitudes
that support living
within an External
Social
Environment
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Counselling
Drug & Alcohol
Violence/Anger Mgt
Therapeutic Art
Victim Empathy
Challenging Offending Behaviour
Therapeutic Wilderness Program
Education
Vocational and Educational Training (VET)
On site/Off site Work Experience
TYPE OF PROGRAM
Intensive Programs for
Serious and Persistent
Offenders
Offence Focussed,
Criminogenic Programs
For Medium to High Risk
Offenders
Parenting, Personalised Training, Internal Project Hahn
Off site Recreational and Community focussed Activities
Social Integration
Programs
Gardening, Maintenance, Art, Sport, Leisure/Negotiated Activities
Skills and Attitudes that support living within an
Internal Local Environment
Local Integration Programs
Sentence Administration
Behaviour Development
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Young people learn that they can make choices about
their behaviour and that those choices may lead to
consequences that are either rewarding or produce
sanctions.
 This will help them develop behaviours that will assist
them to successfully move back into the community.
 Behaviour development is comprised of two schemes
designed to support positive behaviour and manage
negative behaviour. They are:
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THE INCENTIVE SCHEME
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Behaviour development therefore puts into operation
several principles of restorative justice.
The Incentive Scheme
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The purposes of the Incentive Scheme are to reward desirable
behaviour and increase the likelihood of its reoccurrence.
Punishment is not the purpose of the incentive scheme.
Earned rewards should not be taken away to inhibit negative
behaviour.
Behaviour that is rewarded should be realistic and achievable for the
client.
Rewards should apply to behaviour that lead to acquisition of social,
educational and organisational development.
The Young Person is to be provided with opportunities to learn to
make choices, manage their own behaviour responsibly and is to be
encouraged to take responsibility for their actions.
Desirable behaviours should be concrete, specific and operational.
Rewards must be what young people want and value.
Rewards do not include clients entitlements, rights and obligations.
Solutions must be practical.
The Scheme must be simple and clear.
Incident Management
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The purpose of this scheme is to restore the Young Person and the
Detention Centre to the healthy state that existed before the incident
occurred. In this sense incident management constitutes a practice
of restorative justice in a custodial setting. It is used to ensure the
SAFETY of all residents and staff at the Centre at all times.
Incidents are categorised as
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REPORTED INCIDENTS
MINOR INCIDENTS
DETENTION CENTRE OFFENCES
The Incentive Scheme and Incident Management Schemes are
interrelated. There may be some consequences to the Young
Persons level within the Incentive Scheme if their behaviour
warrants detention offence or minor incident proceedings.
Isolation cannot be used as a punishment. Isolation is used to
manage behaviour. There are statutory provisions concerning for
what reason and the secretary’s instruction for how long isolation
can be used.
Thank you for visiting
Are there any questions?