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| Deaths in custody: Western Australia sets up taskforce to review treatment of at-risk prisoners | Deaths in custody: Western Australia sets up taskforce to review treatment of at-risk prisoners |
| (5 days later) | |
| Panel will assess whether prisons are following the suicide prevention strategy after the fourth death in jail in three months | |
| The Western Australian government has set up a taskforce to review the treatment of at-risk prisoners after the fourth death in jail in three months, three of them Aboriginal people. | The Western Australian government has set up a taskforce to review the treatment of at-risk prisoners after the fourth death in jail in three months, three of them Aboriginal people. |
| The taskforce, whose membership is yet to be announced, will assess whether prisons are following the state’s suicide prevention strategy. | The taskforce, whose membership is yet to be announced, will assess whether prisons are following the state’s suicide prevention strategy. |
| It will also examine how private contractors are meeting the terms of their contract to manage prisoners. Two of the most recent deaths have been at Acacia prison, run by private contractor Serco, where a 19-year-old Aboriginal man took his own life in July. | It will also examine how private contractors are meeting the terms of their contract to manage prisoners. Two of the most recent deaths have been at Acacia prison, run by private contractor Serco, where a 19-year-old Aboriginal man took his own life in July. |
| Before that, a 40-year-old Indigenous man was found collapsed at Acacia in June. | Before that, a 40-year-old Indigenous man was found collapsed at Acacia in June. |
| There have been other deaths at Roebourne regional prison in July and Melaleuca women’s prison last week, which corrections said appeared to be self-harm incidents. | There have been other deaths at Roebourne regional prison in July and Melaleuca women’s prison last week, which corrections said appeared to be self-harm incidents. |
| “An unnatural death in custody by self-harm is a highly complicated and complex matter,” the state’s corrective services minister, Francis Logan, said on Tuesday. | “An unnatural death in custody by self-harm is a highly complicated and complex matter,” the state’s corrective services minister, Francis Logan, said on Tuesday. |
| “They are deeply sad events that affect many people within and without a prison, most of all a person’s family and loved ones. It can be difficult to pre-empt these deaths and we always strive to learn more and see what else can be done to avoid these tragedies.” | “They are deeply sad events that affect many people within and without a prison, most of all a person’s family and loved ones. It can be difficult to pre-empt these deaths and we always strive to learn more and see what else can be done to avoid these tragedies.” |
| The director of the national suicide prevention and trauma recovery project, Megan Krakouer, said the taskforce was long overdue. | The director of the national suicide prevention and trauma recovery project, Megan Krakouer, said the taskforce was long overdue. |
| “My people keep dying,” Krakouer said. “Since the 1991 royal commission [into Aboriginal deaths in custody] there have been 440 deaths. In WA, there’s been 110 in custody. This is unprecedented – WA is the mother of all jailers. | “My people keep dying,” Krakouer said. “Since the 1991 royal commission [into Aboriginal deaths in custody] there have been 440 deaths. In WA, there’s been 110 in custody. This is unprecedented – WA is the mother of all jailers. |
| “The royal commission made recommendations about the removal of ligature points in 1991, but suicide prevention is not just about ligature points. It’s a holistic approach of investing in intensive psycho-social supports and of 24/7 outreach to families,” she said. | “The royal commission made recommendations about the removal of ligature points in 1991, but suicide prevention is not just about ligature points. It’s a holistic approach of investing in intensive psycho-social supports and of 24/7 outreach to families,” she said. |
| “If the WA government is serious, they need to implement these wraparound services and make social investments in our communities. | “If the WA government is serious, they need to implement these wraparound services and make social investments in our communities. |
| “Prisons should be about rehabilitation. It needs to not be a death sentence.” | “Prisons should be about rehabilitation. It needs to not be a death sentence.” |
| A WA Department of Justice spokesman said figures show there have been 76 Aboriginal deaths in custody in WA since 1991. | A WA Department of Justice spokesman said figures show there have been 76 Aboriginal deaths in custody in WA since 1991. |
| Of 61 Aboriginal deaths subject to coronial inquests to that date, 26 were found to be unnatural deaths. Of the remaining 15 Aboriginal deaths in custody that are pending coronial inquests, six are categorised as apparently unnatural or to be determined. | Of 61 Aboriginal deaths subject to coronial inquests to that date, 26 were found to be unnatural deaths. Of the remaining 15 Aboriginal deaths in custody that are pending coronial inquests, six are categorised as apparently unnatural or to be determined. |
| • Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 | • Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 |