Recommendation 125

This recommendation is assigned to CSNSW and Justice Health NSW.

Recommendation

That in all jurisdictions a screening form be introduced as a routine element in the reception of persons into police custody. The effectiveness of such forms and of procedures adopted with respect to the completion of such should be evaluated in the light of the experience of the use of such forms in other jurisdictions. 

Context

At the commencement of Chapter 24.1 the Royal Commission report stated that issues dealing with Police and prison custody deaths would be dealt with separately in different chapters as the issues were quite distinct. Since the time of the RCIADIC report, CSNSW has taken operational responsibility for some police/court cells. While this recommendation is directed at Police, CSNSW has provided a response as far as relevant.  

Detail of implementation 

Police Court Cells  

The Inmate Lodgement & Special Instruction Sheet (known as IIO) form is used to complete an initial screening of persons entering Corrective Services custody in selected court cells.  

CSNSW’s Security and Intelligence (S&I) Branch (now Custody Metro Branch) assumed responsibility from the Screening Coordinator (Classification Branch, now Offender Services and Programs) for the Inmate Identification and Observation (IIO) Form around 2013. 

The IIO is completed by the Court Escort and Security Unit  (CESU) Officers by hand and summarised on an electronic lodgement form which is sent to notify correctional centre staff of any issues relating to newly received inmates.    

Form creation, evolution, and training  

Corrective Services created a Safe Custody Course in the early 2000s for S&I custodial staff (now Custody Metro Branch), and training in screening new inmates was included for all Court Cell staff. In 2012/13 an online version replaced the face-to-face training.  

• The Learning Management System (LMS) has three (3) courses available to all CSNSW staff (including CESU court officers). The courses cover the screening fresh custody inmates, and subjects such as Lodgement and IIO. 

• The Custodial Training Unit train all Primary trainees in Lodgement and IIO. This training occurs after the two-day Case Management course. 

• The IIO forms were created as a first contact/admission form and is still currently used by Court Escort Security Branch in all court cells, as well as Reception Room officers. 

The Welfare Screening Form - which evolved to the Intake Screening Form (now the Intake Screening Questionnaire (ISQ)  - was created as a result of the Royal Commission and was introduced across all reception centres between 1994 and 1997. Today all inmates are screened with the ISQ within the first 36 business hours after admission. 

If any forms are updated, they must go through the Aboriginal Strategy directorate for review to ensure a cultural lens in provided. 

Intake into Correctional Centres  

CSNSW implemented a detailed screening form - the Intake Screening Questionnaire (ISQ) for all reception into custody. This is regularly updated, including in response to coronial recommendations. The ISQ version 7 is currently being updated for possible implementation in 2023.  

On arrival at a Correctional centre CSNSW, Service and Programs Officers (SAPOs) and Justice Health Staff undertake two separate screenings. Justice Health undertake a comprehensive assessment of all inmates upon reception. SAPOs complete the ISQ with all new reception inmates prior to classification and placement.  

Training required to conduct screening and to administer the ISQ:  

• Complete the Reception, Screening, Induction and Orientation (RSIO) e-learning on the CSNSW Learning Management System. 

• Complete the one-day RSIO training provided by Coordinator, RSIO, Services Development and Integrity Team (SDIT) or an officer delegated by Manager SDIT and  

• Be paired with an experienced screener to observe three separate screenings conducted by an experienced screener, and 

• Conduct three screenings and send each MIN, separately, to Coordinator, RSI for review and written feedback. 

Supervision  

CSNSW is committed to providing offender support services and behaviour change programs to the highest standards. 

As an integral part of this commitment, the Offender Services & Programs  (OS&P) Branch offers professional supervision to OS& P staff engaged in the delivery of services and programs.  

Professional supervision is group-based, equitable, planned and delivered to Services and Programs staff on a continuing basis by qualified staff. 

CSNSW has a duty of care for staff working in difficult and challenging roles, and supervision ensures quality in service delivery as well as the safety and well-being of staff.   

The aims of professional supervision are to:  

• provide the best possible support to OS&P staff in accordance with CSNSW’s responsibilities and professional standards. CSNSW will achieve these aims through having OS&P staff that are skilful, knowledgeable, clear about their roles, and assisted in their practice by sound advice and support by a professional supervisor, who is not their manager, and with whom they have a good professional relationship. 

• fulfil a duty of care by assisting OS&P staff in their work in difficult and challenging roles.  

Experience of other Jurisdictions 

In designing and updating the screening forms a number of reviews of reception/intake screening instruments of other jurisdictions have taken place. These include:  

• Reviewed Metropolitan Assessment Prison, Corrections Victoria (approx 1996-1998) reception screening form – paper version 

• Reviewed Belconnen Remand Centre screening form (approx. 1997) 

• Visited and reviewed Screening process and documentation – St Petersburg Prison (Florida, 1998) (paper version) 

• Visited and reviewed screening and industries from Alice Springs prison (September 2000) 

• Visited and reviewed screening and case management conducted in Yatala (SA) Prison South Australia (approx. 2001) 

Some unfortunately, subsequent RSI Coordinators have not kept copies of these earlier documents as they were paper versions. 

Churchill Fellowship (2004)  

During 2003-04 Mr Feenan also investigated assessment, case management and programs in NZ, Canada and England/Wales, and brought back numerous documents. Unfortunately, due to office movements most these documents have not been archived.  A Churchill Report indicates that Mr Feenan: 

• Accessed versions of the NZ Screening tools in use at the time – both pre and post sentencing 

• Accessed Inmate Medical File and Screening Forms from Her Majesty’s Prison Service (paper version) 

• Information regarding the process for reception and induction of prisoners in HMPS 

Justice Health NSW response  

Upon reception to custody all patients are subject to a Reception Screening Assessment (RSA) with the view of determining whether the patient is at risk of injury, illness or self-harm. The RSA is completed with a Justice Health NSW nurse and should be completed within 24 hours of reception to the health centre. Patients are waitlisted for appropriate health practitioners for further assessment and management as clinically indicated, inclusive of Medical Officers and Psychiatrists.