Approximately 16,000 people are received into custody each year in New South Wales. Of these:
The pattern of drug use highlights the importance of ensuring comprehensive screening and assessment of inmates on entry.
The longer-term goals are to identify a treatment program to suit the needs of the individual and to facilitate continuity of care
on both reception to and release from the correctional system.
- ADULT DRUG COURT PROGRAM
The Adult Drug Court of New South Wales has been in operation since February 1999 and Justice Health has been involved since the inception of this innovative court diversion scheme.
This court diversion scheme brings together the judiciary, Legal Aid, The Department of Prosecution, Probation and Parole and The Department of Health with the aim of placing into
treatment those drug dependent offenders who would otherwise be likely to serve a custodial sentence.
Justice Health provides integral services to those offenders who are found eligible to participate in the program. These services are: detoxification, assessment and treatment, liaison with Drug and Alcohol Services in Area Health Services, and assessment and referral to a variety of rehabilitation centres. There are specific Drug Court Units in MRRC, Parramatta and Mulawa Correctional Centres.
Further information on the Drug Court program is available through www.lawlink.com.au
- CORRECTIONAL CENTRE RELEASE TREATMENT SCHEME PROJECT (CCRTS)
The Correctional Centre Release Treatment Scheme (CCRTS) Project has been refunded by the Drug Summit Initiative until June 2007.
It is well known that post release inmates with Drug and Alcohol issues experience difficulties in the return from prison to the wider
community. These include dealing with a range of negative experiences of imprisonment. These experiences are characterised by isolation,
accommodation difficulties, financial and material constraints and a lack of significant emotional support.
The CCRTS Project attempts to address these identified barriers. The project team aim to provide support, education and assistance with
linking into community based health and welfare services to assist them in breaking the cycle of re-offending.
The Aims of this Project are:
- Assessing the individual's post release needs prior to release and developing a post release care plan.
- Provide co-ordination between correctional centre care and community based health and welfare services in order to support former clients to stay in the community for longer.
- Support the re-integration of post release clients back into their family network where appropriate.
- Enhance support to individuals with drug problems post release.
In 2003 - 2005:
CCRTS Project provides services across three geographical areas:
- Wellington-Dubbo.
- Central Sydney Area Health (Aboriginal Inmates Only).
- Western Sydney Area Health.
In 2005 - 2007:
The CCRTS Project will be expanding to include:
- Mid North Coast Area Health.
- Hunter Area Health.
IN-REACH PROJECT
The In-reach Project commenced in 2003 with the aim of achieving optimal post release outcomes for inmates through facilitating transfer
from custody for those on opioid pharmacotherapy treatment programs.
There are nine In-reach Project worker positions based in Area Health Services across the state. Each worker is responsible for the Adult
Correctional Centres within their area. The worker is notified of an inmate who is due for release and who is on replacement pharmacotherapy
treatment. The worker attends the Correctional Centre and conducts a comprehensive assessment of the client's health, social, employment and
other needs, and then develops a plan encompassing these. A community dosing point is identified by the worker, who then arranges the transfer
of the client's treatment post-release.
The Justice Health State-wide Drug and Alcohol Discharge Planning Service continues to arrange community dosing points for clients being
released from Correctional Centres where an In-reach worker is not available. In 2004 the In-reach workers managed 527 releases of inmates on
pharmacotherapy treatments. A number of factors underpin the success of the project. One of the most important is maintaining the low number of
unexpected releases so that a post release plan can be developed before the client leaves custody. A post release plan will assist the client in
accessing services more readily upon release. The role of clinic staff is critical in identifying these clients and advising Irwin House staff as
early as possible of the client's date of release.
