Custodial Services Review

Mentally impaired accused on ‘custody orders’: Not guilty, but incarcerated indefinitely

This review by the Inspector of Custodial Services examines the issues for people found to be of unsound mind or unfit to stand trial who are trapped in WA’s prison system.

This very timely report is highly recommended reading.

Recommendations in the review include legislative change to give the courts more options in dealing with people under the Act and to repeal the model of executive decision making; instead placing the power for decisions about release to the courts, the Mental Health Review Board or the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board.

Several recommendations focus on the service response – such as more forensic mental health beds, transitional mental health units in prisons, continued development of declared places, multi-agency coordination for release planning and more.

Read more here.