For many offenders, going to prison is the first time in their lives they are seen by health professionals.
Department of Justice, Corrective Services Division Health Services provides a range of primary care health services across Western Australian to prisoners. Service provision encompasses interventions to identify and manage acute and chronic conditions (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, asthma); infectious diseases; sexually transmissible diseases and blood borne viruses; and referral to specialist and tertiary services. Population focused health improvement initiatives are also provided including health protection; disease prevention; infection control; communicable disease outbreak management; and immunisation.
Primary health care is provided to all prisoners statewide by a team of doctors, nurses, and visiting health specialists including dentists and allied health specialists.
On entering the prison system, prisoners receive a health screening check that looks for chronic diseases such as diabetes, and communicable diseases such as hepatitis C.
Education and health awareness programs are also available to prisoners to encourage them to improve their health skills and live healthier lives when they are released.
The Department of Health's Dental Health Services is responsible for providing dental care to prisoners. The dental care is commensurate to that provided to the general community, however there is no charge for routine treatment. The service includes routine dental care focused on relief of pain and alleviation of infection; such as: dental examinations, oral health advice, extractions, fillings, x-rays.
While in custody, prisoners receive the same level of health care the general public would receive under the public health system.
Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and sexually transmissible infections (STIs)
Show moreCorrective Services’ Health Services is one of the biggest single notifiers of viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C) in Western Australia. This is because of the high number of offenders who take part in injecting drug use before they are sent to prison.
For many offenders, prison is the first time they have had the opportunity to be screened for viral hepatitis and, many who test positive have no idea they have the infection.
Corrective Services run a number of education and health programs for offenders including the HIP HOP (Health in Prisons, Health Outta Prisons) blood borne virus and sexual health program which looks at issues that increase the risk of contracting and spreading BBVs and STIs including unprotected sex, unclean tattooing and needle sharing.
Corrective Services also works to reduce the spread of BBVs and STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV by making condoms and dental dams available free to prisoners. The condoms are provided via vending machines and not only help reduce the spread of infections and blood-borne viruses among prisoners, but also to reduce the spread of these diseases when offenders are released back into the community.
Exit kits which include public health information and condoms (and dental dams?) are also given to prisoners when they are released.
Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs
Show moreThe Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drug (MHAOD) branch delivers mental health and alcohol and other drug healthcare to some of the most vulnerable and high-risk individuals in the State. The MHAOD staff work to improve MHAOD patient outcomes and reduce associated harm and risks as far as possible.
Prisoners with a mental illness are managed as they would be in the public health system, with Corrective Services using a process of assessment, diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
MHAOD services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams within prisons and detention centres and are made up of highly specialised staff including nurses, consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, Aboriginal mental health workers and prison support officers.
The mental health team offers the following services:
- identifying prisoners with a mental illness, liaising with agencies who have cared for those prisoners in the past and continuing appropriate treatment before discharging the prisoner into community care when they are released
- assessing all prisoners who are referred for inappropriate behaviour. If a mental illness is detected, then they are treated as above
- assessing prisoners for the Courts and the Prisoners Review Board to help them make decisions about appropriate sentences or parole conditions
- providing mental health education to prisoners
- liaising with other health professionals, including working closely with the Frankland Unit at Graylands Hospital.
Offender drug management
Show moreCorrective Services has a zero-tolerance approach to drug use but recognises some offenders will continue to use drugs. Therefore, Corrective Services aims to reduce the risks associated with drug use by providing a range of initiatives to reduce the supply of, demand for and harms caused by drug use in prison.
Corrective Services offers a range of drug and alcohol treatment programs to offenders at prisons around the state.
However, programs are just one of a number of interventions, including education and training, counselling, re-entry services and structured days. These are designed to help prisoners understand why they offended and reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.
Corrective Services has released its drug and alcohol strategy and action plan aimed at reducing alcohol and drug use, associated harm, anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour by offenders.
Other drug-related support for offenders includes:
- drug rehabilitation unit at Casuarina Prison
- drug rehabilitation prison at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison
- drug-free living units
- brief intervention support
- significant expansion of new and existing offender programs in prison and in the community
- health interventions
- a range of drug and alcohol withdrawal treatments. For more information, refer to the Mental Health Classification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Show moreCan a prisoner obtain their medical records once they are released?
Once prisoners leave prison, a summary of the medical treatment they received while in prison can be supplied by the Department of Justice, Corrective Services Division to health service providers. This is to make sure the former prisoner receives appropriate continuing care.
What happens if a prisoner requires non-lifesaving surgery? Is it performed in-house?
Prisoners requiring non-lifesaving surgery such as a joint replacement are placed on the public waiting list. Appropriate transport is arranged to take the prisoner to hospital if their surgery date comes up while they are still serving their sentence.
What happens if a prisoner needs urgent medical attention in hospital?
If an assessment carried out by prison health staff shows the prisoner requires hospitalisation, appropriate transport will be arranged.
When someone goes to prison, do they get to keep their medication?
No
Can family members bring in prescription medicine for prisoners?
No
Who provides medication to prisoners?
The Department's pharmacy is responsible for the supply and dispensing of medication to prisoners. If a prisoner is already on medication when entering the prison, prison health staff contact the prisoners consulting doctor and receive a prescription for the medication. Prison health staff issue the medication either daily or, depending on the condition, the medication is kept with the prisoner.
What program and services are provided to prisoners with drug-related addictions?
To see a full list of programs on offer, refer to Rehabilitation Programs.
Can prisoners catch diseases through tattooing in prison?
Yes they can. Tattooing is prohibited in all WA prisons however if a prisoner does receive a tattoo, the chances of infection are increased through sharing of needles. For more information, refer to Blood-borne Viruses.
Do prisoners see gender-related doctors?
All State prisons attempt to provide both female and male doctors however, due to the prisoner population prisoners may not see a specific-gendered doctor.
Do prisoners receive regular check-ups?
On entry, all prisoners receive a Nursing health assessment, within their first 24 hours. Where necessary, follow up appointments are made with nursing, medical, mental health and specialist staff. Prisoners also receive annual health assessments. If a prisoner is feeling unwell, they can request an appointment.
Are contraceptives eg the pill, provided to female prisoners?
Yes. Sex is prohibited in all WA prisons however if a prisoner is already on the contraceptive pill when entering prison, they may continue using the contraceptive if their external doctor agrees. If so, the prescription is given to prison staff from their doctor.
Do pregnant prisoners give birth in prisons?
At full term, all pregnant prisoners are transferred to hospital.
At what age can children stay with their mothers in prison?
At Bandyup Women's Prison, children can live with their mothers up until the age of 1. At Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women, children can live with their mothers up until age 4. Children under 12 can apply for overnight stays or extended day stays.
Are condoms and dental dams provided to prisoners?
Condoms and dental dams are provided to help reduce the spread of infections and blood-borne viruses among prisoners and the transmission of infections and blood-borne viruses when offenders are released back into the community. Exit kits which include public health information and condoms are also given to prisoners when they're released.
