Forum: Achieving Reform of the CLMIA Act

On Monday 27th October WAAMH held a Forum ‘Not guilty due to unsound mind: achieving reform of the Criminal Law Mentally Impaired Accused Act’, which was attended by more than 70 people from the mental health, justice, legal and disability sectors.

Presenters included His Honour Judge Robert Cock the Chairperson of the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board, Professor Neil Morgan the Inspector of Custodial Services, and Matthew Holgate, criminal lawyer.

Margaret Doherty spoke eloquently of the impact of the Act on her family, and Richard Pollard spoke of his experience being mentally unwell and in prison. Both Margaret and Richard appealed for the end of prison as a place of detention for people held under the Act.

 A panel spoke about the most urgent reforms to the Act and how we can achieve legislative change. In addition to the above speakers, panellists represented the RANZCP, the Mental Health Law Centre, Development Disability WA and the Council of Official Visitors.

It was acknowledged that despite much advocacy over many years, change has been frustratingly difficult to achieve.

Read the report on the forum: Achieving Reform of the CLMIA Act.

View Inspector of Custodial Services Neil Morgan's presentation at the forum.