the digital divide: access to digital technology for

The Digital Divide: Access to digital technology for people in custody

Februar y 2018www.oics.wa.gov.au

Level 5, Albert Facey House, 469 Wellington Street Perth, Western Australia 6000Telephone: +61 8 6551 4200 Facsimile: +61 8 6551 4216

7639 OIC A3 Review cover artwork.indd 1 12/02/2018 12:48 PM

ISBN: 978-0-9942293-9-7

This report is available on the Office’s website and will be made available, upon request, in alternate formats.


Contents

Inspector’soverview.........................................................................................................................................i

Executivesummary.........................................................................................................................................iii

Background...............................................................................................................................................iii

KeyFindings.............................................................................................................................................iii

Conclusion..................................................................................................................................................v

Recommendations............................................................................................................................................vi

1 Peopleincustodyhavelimitedaccesstocomputers...............................................................1

1.1 WAprovideslessaccesstocomputersthanotherstates..........................................1

1.2 Variationbetweenfacilitiescausesinequity...................................................................5

2 Educationisdrivingdigitaltechnologyaccessincustody....................................................8

2.1 Accesstodigitaltechnologyiscoordinatedinadulteducation..............................8

2.2 Youngpeopleincustodyhaveinadequateaccesstodigitaltechnology.............9

2.3 Privatelyrunfacilitiesvaryinaccess..............................................................................10

3 Accesstodigitaltechnologyforlegalpurposesisinadequate.........................................12

3.1 Legalprofessionalsfacerestrictionsinprovidingservicestoclients...............13

4 TheDepartmentismissingopportunities.................................................................................15

4.1 Videocommunicationiswidelyusedforcourtappearancesbutnotenoughforvisits....................................................................................................................................................15

4.2 Privatelyoperatedfacilitiesmakegooduseofself-servicekiosks.....................17

4.3 WAhasnotattemptedsecureinternetandintranetaccessforpeopleincustody......................................................................................................................................................19

DepartmentofJusticeresponsetorecommendations.........................................21

Accesstodigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustodybyfacility(informationprovidedbythefacilities)...........................................................................................................................25

Previousinspectionrecommendationsaboutvideocommunication...........30

Methodology...........................................................................................................................31

Bibliography...........................................................................................................................32

i

Inspector’soverviewDespiteafallingcrimerate,thenumberofpeopleinprisonkeepsrising.Oneofthedriversisthehighnumberofpeoplewhoreturntoprisonafterrelease.Itislogical,therefore,tofocusonreintegratingpeoplefromcustodybackintothecommunity.

Smartuseoftechnologycanhelpachievethisinmanyways.Itcanincreasepeople’sopportunitiestostayincontactwithfamilyandfriendswhileincustody,makingreintegrationlessconfronting.Withtherighttechnology,accesstolegal,healthandgovernmentservicesincustodycanbeincreased.Webbasedsystemsandothertechnologiesofferopportunitiestoincreaseprogramandeducationservicesinthecustodialenvironment.

Unfortunately,WesternAustraliahasnottakenacoordinatedorstrategicapproachtousingdigitaltechnologytoimprovetheseservices.Wearelaggingbehindotherstatesandsomeofourregionalneighbours.

Weunderstandthefiscalpressuresfacinggovernment.Wealsounderstandthatexpandingdigitaltechnologywillhavecosts.However,smartinvestmentcanleadtoefficienciesandlongtermsavings.Inordertodothis,thereneedstobeacommitmentfromtheDepartmentofJusticetolookforopportunitiesandimplementimprovementswherepractical.Thisreviewshowsthatitislikelytobesometimebeforethereissubstantialimprovementforpeopleincustody.

TheDepartment’sresponsetothereportdrawsheavilyonitsinformationcommunicationtechnology(ICT)transformationproject.ThisprojectisunderpinnedbystategovernmentpolicyaimedatmodernisingICTtoreduceinfrastructureduplicationandtoharnesswholeofgovernmentbuyingpowerforICTservices.

However,thefocusofthisprojectislargelyonimprovingICTforstaff.TheonlymentionofICTforpeopleincustodyisinrelationtotheprisonertelephonesystemandoffendereducationservices.Whiletheseimprovementswillbewelcomeitisanarrowfocus.Theroadmapprovidedtoushasnoreferencestomatterssuchasin-celltechnology,determiningthenumberofcomputersneededfortheprisonpopulation,orincreasingvideotechnologyforvisitsforpeopleincustody–whichwereourrecommendations.

Obviously,IsupporttheDepartment’seffortstoimprovetheuseofICTforstaff,monitoring,andsurveillancepurposes.ButIamconcernedthatimprovementsinaccesstodigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustodywillbesloworsidelined.Weliveinthedigitalage,andcontrolledaccesstoICTwillbeanincreasinglynecessaryandpowerfultoolforrehabilitation.

ii

IfsmartinvestmentintechnologyforpeopleincustodyistobeimprovedinWesternAustralia,planningneedstostartnow.Cleargoalsneedtobeset,andrisksandmitigationstrategiesneedtobeidentifiedanddocumented.Ihopethisreportwillgiveimpetustosuchplanning.

Oneareawhichillustratesthecurrentproblemsistheabilityofpeopleincustodytoaccesslegaldocumentsandotherrecords.Thesedays,themajorityoflegalpracticeiselectronic,notpaper-based.Peopleincustodyhavetherighttoviewsuchmaterialinordertopreparetheircaseordiscussaplea.Lawyerstoldusthat,intheirview,theDepartment’spolicyaboutlawyerstakinglaptopsintoofficialvisitsareas,toshareinformationwithclientsisbothrestrictiveandinconsistentlyapplied.Iampleasedtoreportthat,afterdiscussionswithus,theDepartmentagreedtoreassessitspolicy,andcommittedtoensuringconsistencyatdifferentprisons.

However,IwouldhaveexpectedtohavefoundevidenceofregulardiscussionsbetweentheDepartmentandthelegalprofessiononhowbesttomanagecommunicationsandrisks,andgreateruseoftechnologiessuchasSkype.Iwouldalsohaveexpectedlawyer/clientcommunicationstobepartofcomprehensiveICTplanning.Thatdoesnotappeartobethecaseontheevidenceprovidedtous.Inpart,thatmayreflectthefactthatprisonsandcourtsusedtoberunbyseparategovernmentdepartments.ThenewDepartmentofJusticeisnowresponsibleforboth.Ihopethiswillleadtoimprovedcoordinationandpolicydevelopment.

NeilMorgan

12February2018

iii

Executivesummary

BackgroundSincetheearly1980stherehavebeenrapidandprofoundtechnologicalchangesinsociety.Digitaltechnologyhasbecomeanintegralpartofourlives.Weuseswipe-cardtechnologyandmobilephonestopayforitemsandservices.Weconductsocialandeconomictransactionsviaemail,web-based,orsocialmediaplatforms.Andwecontinuetoadaptourhomes,workplaces,andlearningenvironmentsastechnologyadvances.

Mostpeopleincustodyarealreadysociallyandeconomicallydisadvantaged.Oftentheyhavelowersocioeconomicstatus,poorhealth,highunemploymentandlowlevelsofeducation(Murphy,2012).Associetymovestowardsdigitisedlearningandworkingenvironments,thedigital,social,andcommunicationdividebetweenpeopleincustodyandtheoutsideworldincreases.Thisresultsinfurtherexclusionofthosewhoarealreadysociallyexcluded.

Inrecentyears,theDepartmentofJustice(formerlytheDepartmentofCorrectiveServices)hasembracedtechnologiessuchaselectronicmonitoringofoffenders,surveillanceandscanningequipment,andcomputerisedcasemanagementandreporting.Usingsuchtechnologiescanimproveefficiencyandserviceoutcomes.However,peopleincustodyhavegainedlittlefromadvancesindigitaltechnology,resultingindigitalinequalitiesandawideningdigitaldivide.

KeyFindingsAccesstodigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustodyinWesternAustraliaispoor

ComparedwithotherAustralianjurisdictionsWesternAustraliahaspooraccesstocomputersandin-celldevices.Onaveragethereisonlyonecomputeraccessibleforevery15peopleheldincustody.

Thereisconsiderablevariationbetweenfacilitiesbasedonhoweachchoosestoprioritiseaccess.Thisfailstoaccountfortheneedsoftheprisonpopulation.Forexample,facilitieswiththelargestnumbersofpeopleonremandhavethepoorestaccesstodigitaltechnologyeventhoughtheyareunconvictedandneedmoreaccesstoelectroniclegalinformationandcomputers.

TheDepartmenthasnottakenacoordinatedorstrategicapproachtoassessingthelevelofneedandrequirementsforcomputeraccessforpeopleincustody.

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Adulteducationisdrivingdigitaltechnologyaccessbutisnotextendingintoyoutheducation

Almostallthecomputersavailabletopeopleincustodyareforeducationpurposes.Mostadultprisonsprovidesomedegreeofaccesstocomputers,e-readers,andinteractivewhiteboardsforeducationpurposes.

TheDepartment’sEducationandVocationalTrainingUnit(EVTU)providesguidanceandgovernancefortheuseofdigitaltechnologytoenhancelearninginadultprisons.Adedicatedstaffmembermaintainsandupgradesequipmentandprovidestechnicalsupportwhenneeded.

However,youngpeopleinBanksiaHilldonotbenefitfromthecoordinationprovidedthroughEVTU.TheDepartmenthasneglectedtheobviousneedforcomputersinyoutheducation.OurJuly2017inspectionfoundlittleprogress1despitetheDepartmenthaving:

• fundsallocatedtofixthesituationsince2015• documentedplanssinceearly2017• assignedresponsibilitytotheKnowledgeandInformationTechnology

directoratetoimplementtheplans(DCS,2017a;DCS,2017b).

Legalservicesarerestrictedduetopoordigitaltechnologyaccess

Peopleincustodycanonlyaccesselectroniclegalinformationandpreparefortheircourtappearancesusingcomputersinlibrariesorcommonareas,oraverylimitednumberofin-celllaptops.

Policystipulatesthatatleastonecomputeristobemadeavailableforthispurposeineachprisonlibrary.Butthereisnoguidanceonhowmanycomputersshouldbeavailablebasedontheprisonpopulation.

Thereisnocentralisedpersonorrolewhoisresponsibleformaintaining,upgrading,orsupportingthesecomputers.Thisresultsinconsiderablevariancebetweenfacilities.

Legalpractitionersreporteddifficultiesinshowingelectronicevidencetoclientsincustody.Theysaidclientsoftendonotseeelectronicmaterialuntiltheyreachcourt.Thiscanreducetheoptionsforearlypleasandextendtimeincustody.

TheDepartmentismissingopportunitiestousedigitaltechnologytoincreasesocialcontactandimprovethedigitalliteracyofpeopleincustody

TheDepartmentusesvideolinksforcourtappearances,bringingsignificantfinancialsavingsincourtcustodyandtransportcosts.Butitmakeslittleuseof

1DuringanOICSvisitinDecember2017,wefoundthecomputerswereoperational.CorrespondencefromtheDepartment,claimsthisoccurredon10July2017whichwasnotconsistentwithwhatwefoundduringourInspection.

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videocommunicationtechnologytofacilitatesocialcontactwithpeopleoutsidecustodyorinotherfacilities.

Privately-runfacilitiesuseself-servicekioskstoallowpeopleincustodytomanageappointments,accounts,andordercanteenitems.Thisreducestheadministrativeburdenoncustodialofficers,improvesthedigitalliteracyofpeopleincustody,andpromotespersonalresponsibility.Thesesystemshavebeenasuccessbuthavenotyetbeenintroducedinthestate’spublicfacilities.

ConclusionWesternAustraliahasnotgivensufficientprioritytothedevelopmentofdigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustody.

Thereisnocentralisedcoordinationorstrategy.Asaresult,progresshasbeenadhocandopportunitieshavebeenmissed.Wehavefallenbehindotherstatesandterritories.

Accesstodigitaltechnologyforeducationpurposeshasdrivensomeinnovation,butthishasbeeninconsistent.

Accesstodigitaltechnologyforlegalpurposeshasnotkeptupwithchangesinthecommunityandthecourts.Thegapiswidening,andthishasthepotentialtocauseunnecessarypressureinthejusticesystem.

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Recommendations

Page

1 Identifyandmanagetherisksassociatedwithin-celltechnology,withtheintenttoexpandtheavailabilityofin-cellcomputeraccess.

3

2 Establishamodeltodeterminetheappropriateratioofcomputerstoprisonpopulation,whichaccountsfortheneedsoftheprisoncohort,andincreasethenumberofcomputerswhereneeded.

5

3 ImplementtheplantoupdatedigitaltechnologyatBanksiaHill. 10

4 Identifyacentralisedperson/rolewithresponsibilityformaintaining,upgrading,andsupportinglibrarycomputers.

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5 DevelopaMemorandumofUnderstandingwithkeylegalbodiestoensureelectroniclegalmaterialcanbeviewedbypeopleincustody.

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6 Implementawholeofdepartmentsolutiontoincreasevideocommunicationforofficial,social,andinter-prisonvisits.

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1

1 Peopleincustodyhavelimitedaccesstocomputers

1.1 WAprovideslessaccesstocomputersthanotherstatesInWesternAustralia,thereisaratioofapproximately15peopleincustodyforeachcomputerinadultprisons.NewSouthWales,Queensland,Victoria,Tasmania,andtheAustralianCapitalTerritoryallhavegreateraccess.2

Figure1ComputersavailableforpeopleincustodyinAustralia

Accesstoin-celltechnologyisparticularlylowinWesternAustralia.In-celltechnologyincludesin-cellfixeddevices,desktopcomputers,andportabledevicessuchaslaptopsortablets.Theseallowpeopleincustodytoexpandtheiraccesstoeducationalandlegalresources.Thiscanreducecompetitionwithotheractivitiesduringtheday,enablingpeopletobalanceworkandstudycommitmentsincustody.Accesstoin-celltechnologyalsomeansusersareunaffectedbyopeninghours,staffunavailability,orlockdowns.

2InformationfromtheNorthernTerritoryandSouthAustraliawasnotavailable.

1:151:12

1:12

1:7

1:7½

1:1½

FUTURE PLANS:Additional 200 preloaded laptops by late 2017800 in-cell technology screens for two new planned facilities1000 computers with intranet for education and legal purposes

26 in cell laptops for educational purposes50 computers with intranet (Rison Prison Complex) 4 computers for entertainment purposes

NOTE: No data available for N.T. and S.A.

Estimated 427 in-cell computers and laptops for education and legal 137 communal computers for vocational training120 laptops plus desktop computer in each library

65 laptops for legal purposes 1000 computers with intranetfor education and legal purposes

NEW SOUTH WALES

130 computers for legalpurposes600 in cell computers (Hopkins Correctional Centre)Estimated 250–300 computers for education

VICTORIA

TASMANIA

301 in-cell computers (Alexander Maconochie Centre)10 communal computers

A.C.T.

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA30 laptops for tertiary education program6 laptops for legal purposes402 communal computers

2

Thereareonly36computerswhichcanbeusedincellsinWesternAustralia.ThirtyofthesehavebeenprovidedbytheUniversityofSouthernQueenslandtobeusedsolelyaspartofapiloteducationalprogram.

Theothersixarespeciallyconfiguredlaptopswhichcanbeissuedtopeopleincustodyforlegalpurposes.Forsecurityreasonsnoneofthesecomputersareabletoaccesstheinternet.

Accesstoin-cellcomputersfellsignificantlyinWesternAustraliain2009whentheprivilegeofowningandaccessinganin-cellcomputerwasremoved.Atthetimetherewere167computersownedbypeopleincustody,withspecificconfigurationrequirementswhichincludedpreventingthecomputerfromaccessingtheinternet.Thereasonsforthewholesaleremovalofcomputers,citedbytheDepartmentatthetime,includedsecuritybreachesandthecostofauditingandmanagingthecomputers(DCS,2009).

DespitecitingsecurityrisksasoneofthereasonsforremovingaccesstothesecomputerstheDepartmentdidnotdocumenttherisksassociatedwithhavingin-cellaccesstocomputers.Nordidtheyconsideroptionsformanagingtherisksbeyondtheblanketremovalofthecomputers.

Intheyearleadinguptothewholesaleremoval,only12computerswereconfiscatedduetosecuritybreaches.Thiswasasmallnumbercomparedtothenumberofcomputersinuse.

FabreandZymarishaveidentifiedthefollowingrisksinallowingpeopleincustodyaccesstodigitaltechnology,andhowtheseriskscouldbemanaged(Fabre&Zymaris,2016).

Table1Accesstodigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustody:riskmanagement

SecurityRisks RiskManagementImprovisedweaponsandself-harm Computersshouldbeconfiguredtoensure

minimumcablelengthsandhavelightweightornonremovableperipherals

Concealmentofcontrabandincomputerhardware

Physicalchecks,all-in-one,ortransparentcomputerchassis,tamper-evidentseals

Digitalcontraband(e.g.violentorpornographicimagesortypednotes)

Softwareandstoragerestrictions,modificationstohardwaresuchassealingUSBports

Unidentifiedprinteddocuments Allprinteddocumentsneedtoprovideuserdetailsincludingnameanddate/timeofprinting

Clandestinecommunication(e.g.unauthorisedcommunicationswithprotectedpersons,victims,witnesses,media,orcriminalassociates)

Restrictedstoragerequirements(noshareddocumentstorageareas)andemailrestrictionsincludingkeywordorkeyphrasefiltering

3

Accessing,sharing,orstoringunauthorisedmaterial

Designingandmaintainingsecuresystemswhichrestrictandcontrolaccess,sharing,andstorageofinformation

Breachesofaccesstoprivate,confidential,orprivilegedmaterial

Physicalandelectronicsurveillanceandmonitoring,includingrandomandtargetedauditingofassetsandsystems,andloggingofallsystemactivity

Roguemedia/devices(e.g.anystoragedevicewhichisportableandoutsidestaffcontrolincludingCD’s,DVD’s,USB’s)

Securedata,programsandcompleteoperatingsystems(e.g.computersconfiguredtodenyuseofanyremovablestoragedeviceandtoactivelyalertstaffofsuchattempts)

Malicioussoftwareanddenialofserviceattacks

Computersystemmustpreventinstallationorrunningunapprovedsoftwareandsystemstoragequotasmustbeimplemented

Uncontrolledaccessanddatastorage Automatedandpredefinedsystemcurfews,networked,serverbasedstoragewhichcanbelockeddownandinspected

OtherjurisdictionsinAustraliaaremanagingtherisksassociatedwithaccesstocomputersbypeopleincustody.CorrectionalagenciesinNewSouthWales,Victoria,Queensland,andtheAustralianCapitalTerritoryhavecomprehensivepolicieswhichgovernaccesstocomputersbypeopleincustody.Thesepoliciesincludeinformationon:

• eligibilitycriteria• principlesofuse• approvalprocesses• systemconfigurations• penaltiesformisuse• supervision,monitoring,andauditingrequirements.

RecommendationIdentifyandmanagetherisksassociatedwithin-celltechnology,withtheintenttoexpandtheavailabilityofin-cellcomputeraccess.

Sixcomputerswereavailableforpeopleincustodytouseforlegalpurposes.Asof29May2017nonewereinuse.Thereasonforthelackofdemandisunknown,butitmaybeduetodifficultieswiththeapplicationprocess,oralackofawarenessoftheiravailability.

Inthesevenyearssincetheremovalofindividuallyownedin-cellcomputers:

• only15formalwrittenapplicationsforadepartmentallegallaptopweresubmittedbypeopleincustody

4

• anadditionalthreepeoplesubmittedcorrespondencerequestingtheuseofalegallaptopbutfailedtocompleteorsubmittherequiredapplicationforms

• ofthe18peoplerequestingadepartmentallegallaptop,onlyninewereapprovedforissue

• ofthosenotapproved,securityconcernswerecitedinfourcasesandtheremainingapplicationsweredeniedduetonotmeetingthestricteligibilitycriteria.

TheselaptopshavebeenspeciallyconfiguredforuseincustodyandareownedbytheDepartment.Despitethelaptopsbeingdepartmentalproperty,thepolicyforaccessiscontainedinPolicyDirective42whichgovernsprisonerproperty(DCS,2013).

Technologyinpractice

TheAlexanderMaconochieCentreintheAustralianCapitalTerritoryhadcomputersinstalledinallcellsandaccommodationblocks.Residentscanbeapprovedtoaccessemail,Internet,andtheLegalEducationandResourceNetwork,whichisanonlineeducationalandlegalresource(ACTGovernment,2017).Otherjurisdictionsincluding:Queensland,Victoria,NewSouthWales,andTasmaniaalsohavein-celltechnologyorallowcomputersincells,althoughrestrictionsapplybasedonthelevelandtypeofneed.

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1.2 VariationbetweenfacilitiescausesinequityThereisnopolicyorguidancethatoutlineshowmanycomputersareneededateachfacility.However,policydoesstipulatethatthereshouldbeatleastonecomputeravailableforlegalpreparationwithineachfacility’slibrary(DCS,2014).

Thereisconsiderablevariationinaccesstocomputersbetweenfacilities.BroomeRegionalPrisonhasnocomputersavailableforaprisonpopulationofapproximately60people.Presumablythisisduetothefactthatitalsohasnolibraryandnoeducation.However,thisjustcompoundsdisadvantage.

TheDepartmentdoesnotappeartohavegivenconsiderationtotheincreasedneedtoaccesscomputerswhenonremand.Peopleremandedincustodyareexpectedtoparticipateintheirowndefencebyviewingevidenceandothermaterials.Theymayalsoneedtopreparewrittensubmissionstothecourtorundertakebasiclegalresearch.

ThelargestmaleremandpopulationsareatHakeaPrisonandCasuarinaPrison.ThelargestfemaleremandpopulationisatMelaleucaRemandandReintegrationFacility.ThesethreefacilitieshadthepoorestaccesstocomputersapartfromBroome,whichalsohasahighproportionofremandprisoners.

Thebestaccesstocomputerswasinsomeoftheminimum-securitypre-releaseandreintegrationfacilities.PardelupPrisonFarm,BoroniaPre-ReleaseCentreforWomen,WandooReintegrationFacility,andKarnetPrisonFarmallhadratiosoflessthan10peopleforeachcomputer.AccessatWoorolooPrisonFarmwasnotasgood.

AppendixBprovidesasummaryofaccesstodigitaltechnologyineachfacility.

RecommendationEstablishamodeltodeterminetheappropriateratioofcomputerstoprisonpopulation,whichaccountsfortheneedsoftheprisoncohort,andincreasethenumberofcomputerswhereneeded.

AccesstocomputersforyoungpeopleincustodyatBanksiaHillDetentionCentrewassignificantlybetterthantheadultestate.Therewereapproximatelytwoyoungpeopleforeverycomputerwithinthefacility3.However,therewereissueswiththequalityofthisequipment(seesection2.2).

3Additionalcomputershavebeenaddedinthelatterhalfof2017.

6

Table2Ratioofpeopleincustodypercomputer(rankedlowesttohighest)

Facility2016/2017Dailyaveragepopulation*

Remandpopulation**

%remand

Totalcomputers

Ratioofpeopleincustodypercomputer

PardelupPrisonFarm 81 0 NA 16 5BoroniaPre-ReleaseCentreforWomen

90 0 NA 16 6

WandooReintegrationFacility

75 0 NA 12 6

RoebourneRegionalPrison

174 73 41.9% 26 7

KarnetPrisonFarm 347 0 NA 38 9EasternGoldfieldsRegionalPrison

165 48 29.1% 19 9

WestKimberleyRegionalPrison

208 45 21.6% 20 10

BunburyRegionalPrison

334 54 16.2% 29 12

BandyupWomen'sPrison

319 127 39.8% 22 15

WoorolooPrisonFarm

380 0 NA 26 15

GreenoughRegionalPrison

321 86 26.8% 20 16

AlbanyRegionalPrison

443 105 23.7% 22 20

AcaciaPrison 1462 0 NA 60 24CasuarinaPrison 947 404 42.6% 36 26HakeaPrison 1012 861 85.1% 35 29MelaleucaRemandandReintegrationFacility

162 96 59.2% 5 32

BroomeRegionalPrison

58 25 43.1% 0 NA

+Department-issuedlaptops 36

TotalAdult 6489 1877 28.9% 438 15BanksiaHillDetentionCentre

142 72 50.7% 57 2

TotalJuvenile 142 72 50.7% 57 2*Source:DCSBusinessIntelligenceandReporting,**Referstoallunsentencedprisoners(mainlycomprisedofremand,however,mayincludeotherstatustypessuchasappeal,extradition,deportation,arrest,intransit,oratlarge)

7

ThedemandforaccesstocomputersbypeopleincustodyisnotknownormeasuredbytheDepartment.

AcaciaPrison(aprivatelyrunprison)isabletoassesslevelofdemandforaccesstolegalcomputerstosomeextentbecauseitsprisonersmustmakebookingstousethelegallibrarycomputers.Inthe12monthsfromAugust2016toJuly2017,therewasanaverageof180bookingspermonthtousethelegalcomputers.Acaciaisamedium-securityfacilitywhichholdsnearly1,500sentencedmales.Astherearenopeopleremandedatthefacility,thedemandforaccesstolegalcomputerspresumablystemsfromoutstandingcourtorappealmatters,paroleplans,orfamily/civillegalmatters.Demandinremandprisonswouldbehigher.

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2 EducationisdrivingdigitaltechnologyaccessincustodyDigitaltechnologyhasthepotentialtoengagemorepeopleinlearning,aswellasexpandtherangeofsubjectsandlevelsofeducationavailable.Youngpeople,inparticular,aremorelikelytoengagewithlearningifitisonlineandinteractive.Itcanalsobeusedtoprovidebettersupportforpeoplewithlearningdisabilities,lowliteracylevels,andEnglishasasecondlanguage(Champion&Edgar,2013).

Adultcustodialfacilitiesusecomputers,e-readers,andinteractivewhiteboardsforeducationpurposes.Most(76%)ofthecomputersavailabletopeopleincustodyareeducationcomputers.

Thereare67e-readersinthepublicmetropolitanprisonsandAlbanyRegionalPrison.Thesewereintroducedtoincreasetheabilityforself-pacedlearning.E-readersareloadedwithacademicreadingmaterialallowinghigherlevelstudentstolearnattheirownpaceandfromwithintheircell.Thesee-readershavehadmixedsuccessastheyareonlytargetedatasmallpartoftheprisonpopulationforaspecificpurpose.Withoutane-readerstudentswouldbeprovidedwithprintedcopiesofmaterial.

Interactivewhiteboardsenableclassestolivestreamtheinternetwhichcanenhanceandexpandprogramdelivery.Onlinecontentsuchasforums,TEDtalks,andtrainingcanbeextendedintotheclassroom.

WestKimberley,EasternGoldfields,Roebourne,andCasuarinahaveaccesstostorycreationsoftwarewhichallowsAboriginalpeopleincustodytocreateanimatedvideosintheirownlanguage.Throughthis,alibraryofresourcesofstoriesandinformationiscreatedinlanguageforotherstoaccess.Informationonmentalhealth,alcoholanddruguse,moneymanagement,andpotentiallyprisonpolicycanbecreated.

Apilotprojectallowingasmallnumberofpeopleincustodytostudyusingin-celllaptopsisalsobeingruninconjunctionwiththeUniversityofSouthernQueensland.Studentsusemodifiedlaptopssuppliedbytheuniversitywhicharepreloadedwithstudymaterialtocompletecourses.Asstatedearlier,30laptopswereavailableforthispurpose.

2.1 AccesstodigitaltechnologyiscoordinatedinadulteducationTheEVTUcoordinatesaccesstodigitaltechnologyacrossadultpublicfacilitiesforeducationalpurposes.TheUnitprovidestechnicalexpertise,guidance,andgovernanceforusingdigitaltechnology.

Educationcampusmanagersareresponsibleformanagingresourcesineducationcentreswithineachpubliclyrunadultfacility.Upgrades,maintenance,

9

andtechnicalsupportareprovidedcentrallybytheEVTUthroughanInformationSystemsOfficer.

InformationTechnologyGuidelinesgoverntheusageofalleducationcentrecomputers.Theguidelinesinclude:

• maintenancearrangements• agreementsforpeopleincustodytoadheretoinordertoaccess

computers• whatthecomputerscanbeusedfor(i.e.study,educationalgamesunder

supervision,preparationofaparoleplaninexceptionalcircumstances)• howdataistobestored• softwareaccessandlicensing(DCS&ASETS,2017).

EVTUhasalsodevelopedspecificguidelinesfortheuseofthecomputerssuppliedbytheUniversityofSouthernQueenslandande-readers.

EVTUmanagestheriskofaccessingdigitaltechnology,includingaddingaphotographofthepersonincustodyontoe-readerstoallowstafftoeasilyidentifytheauthoriseduserofthedevice.Alle-readersandtheuniversitylaptopshavetrackingsheets,serialnumbers,andlogs.Thelaptopsarealsoloadedwithsoftwarewhichdetectsmisuseofthedevice.

2.2 Youngpeopleincustodyhaveinadequateaccesstodigitaltechnology

EducationatBanksiaHillDetentionCentreisnotpartofEVTU.Itthereforedoesnothavethesupportandguidanceavailabletoadultprisons.

InApril2017wevisitedBanksiaHillandobservedthattheeducationcentrecomputershadnotbeenmaintained.Manyofthecomputerswereoutdatedandneglected.Somewerenotevenworkingorhadreducedfunctionality.

Aninternalauditin2016hadfoundthatnearlyhalfthecomputerswerenotworkingandsomecontaineddigitalcontrabandsuchasmovies,music,andillegalsoftware(DCS,2016).

In2015thebudgetforeducationinBanksiaHillwasmergedwiththebudgetofthemainfacility.PriortothisanEducationPrincipalwasresponsibleformanagingaseparatebudget.

TheDepartmentofJusticereceivesfundsfromtheDepartmentofEducationtoprovideeducationservicestoyoungpeopleincustody.DuetotheexpirationofaMemorandumofUnderstanding,fundsin2013and2014werenottransferredtoJusticeatthattime.TheDepartmentofEducationfundingfor2013,2014,and2015(totalling$225,000)waseventuallypaidin2015asalumpsum.

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Itwasacknowledgedatthetimethatdigitaltechnologyhadbeenneglectedandthebackdatedfundswereintendedtobeusedforupgrades.

InJanuary2017theDepartmentcreatedaplantorefreshthetechnologyavailabletoyoungpeopleatBanksiaHill.Itsaiditwould:

• establishastandaloneeducationnetworkforthefacility• providecentralisedadministrationandfilesharingservicesthrougha

dedicatedserver• refreshandrepurpose135corporatecomputerswhichwereduefor

replacementtouseacrosstheeducationnetwork• provide43laptopstobeallocatedtostudentsattheteacher’sdiscretion• providenewprintersandinteractivewhiteboards• provideadedicatedintranetservicetoallowlearningresourcestobe

accessedbyyoungpeople.

TheplanwasforBanksiaHillstafftobetrainedtoprovidebasicsupporttotheinfrastructure.TechnicalsupportwastobeprovidedbytheKnowledgeandInformationTechnologydirectorateinheadoffice.ThisteamisalsoresponsibleforimplementingtheprojecttoaddresstheissuesatBanksiaHill.Anyfurthersupportwouldbeprovidedthroughprivatecontractors.

However,despitetheyearsofneglect,anddespitehavingfundssince2015andaplansinceearly2017,ourinspectionoftheCentreinJuly2017foundminimalprogress.Whilenewcomputerequipmenthadarrived,ithadnotbeensetupornetworked.

RecommendationImplementtheplantoupdatedigitaltechnologyatBanksiaHill.

2.3 PrivatelyrunfacilitiesvaryinaccessEducationinprivatelyrunprisonsisnotprovidedby,orsupportedbytheEVTU,andtheydonotneedtoadheretothestandardguidanceprovidedtothepublicprisons.Accessdiffersdependingontheprivateprovider.

SercorunsAcaciaPrisonandWandooReintegrationFacility.BothfacilitiespurchaseandmaintaincomputerequipmentthroughtheSercoITHelpdesk.TheHelpdeskprovidestechnicalsupport.On-sitetechniciansareavailabletoassistwithissueswhichcannotberesolvedremotelybytheHelpdesk.ThecomputersavailabletopeopleincustodyatAcaciaandWandooarerelativelynewandingoodcondition.

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AcaciaPrisonhadacomprehensivelocalordergoverningtheaccessanduseofcomputersbypeopleincustody,including:

• eligibilityandcriteriatousethecomputerrooms• theapprovalprocesstoaccesscomputers• computerroomsecurity• monitoringofuse• softwareanddatastoragerequirements(Serco,2016a).

WandooReintegrationFacilitydoesnothaveapolicygoverningaccessanduseofcomputersbypeopleincustody.However,itdoeshaveaDirector’sRulewhichgovernsresidentaccesstointernet-basededucation(Serco,2016b).SodexocommencedoperationofMelaleucaRemandandReintegrationFacilityinDecember2016.Everyprisontakestimetobedin,andMelaleucahasbeennoexception.However,evenbythetimeofourreview,educationservicesatMelaleucaremainedextremelylimited.ThefacilitywasstillawaitingapprovaltobecomeaRegisteredTrainingOrganisationandwasnotofferingafullsuiteofeducationprograms.Melaleucadoesnothaveaneducationcentre.However,computerslocatedintheunitprogramroomswereavailableforeducationalpurposes.Computeraccess,maintenance,andupdatingofcomputersweretheresponsibilityoftheheadofbusinessmanagement.Priortotakingoverthefacility,Sodexohaddevelopedarangeofpoliciesandproceduresincludingthosegoverningaccesstocomputers.However,oncethecontractcommenced,itwasapparentmanyofthesepolicieswerenotappropriatefortheoperatingenvironmentandarethereforebeingreviewed.Thepolicygoverningaccesstocomputerswastobereviewedalongwiththeothers.

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3 Accesstodigitaltechnologyforlegalpurposesisinadequate

Peopleincustodyoftenfaceoutstandingcriminallawmattersorlegalissuesassociatedwithbeingincustody.Theseincludedefendingcharges,questionsofsentencing,accessingbail,victimcompensation,sentencecalculations,parole,andthethreatofdeportation.Theymaywellalsohaveothercivilandfamilylawissues,includinghousing,taxorbusiness-relatedmatters,accesstochildren,restrainingorders,andcompensationforanyinjuriesorabusetheysufferedbeforeincarceration.

Peopleincustodymustaccesselectroniclegalinformationandprepareforcourtappearancesusingcomputersinlibrariesorcommonareas,ortheverylimitednumberofin-celllaptops.Unlikeeducationcomputers,thereisnocentralisedpersonorrolewhoisresponsibleforthemaintaining,upgrading,andsupportinglibrarycomputers.

RecommendationIdentifyacentralisedperson/rolewithresponsibilityformaintaining,upgrading,andsupportinglibrarycomputers.

Section5ofPolicyDirective21aboutlibraryservicesstatesthat:

• atleastonecomputerisavailableineachprisonlibraryforthepurposeoflegalpreparationandthatthesecomputersshouldprovideaccesstocurrentAustralianlegislation(viaTimeBase)andappropriatewordprocessingsoftware

• TimeBaseistobeupdatedquarterly• up-to-dateinformationistobeprovidedtoprisonersfromtheLegalAid

Website(thisisnotintendedtobedirectaccessasthepolicyalsostipulatesthereistobenointernetaccessfromthesecomputers)(DCS,2014).

Accesstoelectroniclegalmaterialisvialibrarycomputers.Atbestitisrestrictedtolibraryopeninghours.Furtherrestrictionsoccurwhen,duetoovercrowding,differentcohortshaveaccessatrestricted,rosteredtimes,orwhenpartsoftheprisonarelockeddownasaresultofincidentsorshort-staffing.

Eachfacilityisresponsibleforprovidingtheresourcesforaccess.Therearesubstantialdifferencesbetweenfacilitiesintermsofnumbersofcomputers,operatingsystems,andtypesandageofhardwareandsoftware.

WiththeexceptionofAcaciaPrison(16computers)allotherfacilitieshavesixorfewerworkinglibrarycomputerswhichcanbeaccessedforlegalpurposes.

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Thelownumberofcomputers,thegrowingprisonpopulation,andrestrictionsonaccessingprisonlibrariesmeansthataccessingcomputersforlegalpurposescanbedifficultforpeopleincustody.Supplyhasnotkeptupwithdemand.

3.1 Legalprofessionalsfacerestrictionsinprovidingservicestoclients

Understandablylegalpractitionersarerestrictedfromtakinglaptops,externalmediadevices,andelectroniclegalmaterialintofacilitieswithoutpriorapproval.However,thereareinconsistenciesinobtainingapproval,orusingfacilitysupplieddevices.Thisleaveslawyersandparalegalsunabletoshowaccusedpeopleelectroniclegalmaterialinanumberoffacilities.

Peoplefacingcriminalchargesneedtoviewevidenceandothermaterialsiftheyaretobeabletoenteraninformedpleaorparticipateintheirowndefence.Disclosureinmajorcrimecasesisnowservedinelectronicformats,usuallybyUSBorCD-ROMs.Someofthiscanonlybeviewedinelectronicform,suchasvideorecordingsofincidentsandinterviews.

Thesmallnumberofcomputersavailableinlegallibraries,andlimitedin-cellaccesstocomputers,makesitdifficultforpeopleincustodytoaccesselectronicmaterialsinpreparationfortheirdefence.Legalpractitionersmustthereforeshowaccusedpersonsevidenceagainstthemintheofficialvisitsareasofprisons.

PolicyDirective26dealswithsearchproceduresforfacilityvisitors,includinglegalprofessionalsvisitingtheirclients.Itoutlineswhatvisitorscantakeintocustodialsettings.Legalvisitorsarepermittedtotakelaptopcomputersintoprisonsprovidingallexternalperipheraldevicesandremovablemediaareremoved(DCS,2015).

However,thepolicyalsostatesthatlaptopsbroughtintoaprisonmaynotbeusedtodisplayvideoorotherphotographicmedia,exceptwiththeapprovaloftheprisonsuperintendent.InturnthesuperintendentmustgetadvicefromtheDirectorSecurityandResponseServicesoftheDepartment.

Legalprofessionalstoldusthattheprocesstogainthisapprovalwasinconsistent,bothbetweenfacilities,andbetweenstaffatthesamefacility.Theysaidthatiftheywerestoppedfrombringinginalaptopordigitalmedia,theofficersatthegatewereoftenunabletoprovideanyfurtherinformationabouthowtoseekapproval.

Thetwomainprivatelyoperatedprisons,AcaciaPrison,andMelaleucaRemandandReintegrationFacility,hadlocalformsregardingauthorisationtoallowrestricteditemssuchaslaptopsintotheprison.However,therewasnostandardformorprocessavailabletolegalpractitionerstogainapprovalinotherfacilities.

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Analternativeisforfacilitiestoprovidedeviceswhichcanbeusedtodisplaymaterialforclients.However,somefacilitiesdonotprovideworkingdevices,orthedevicesdonothavethecapacitytoacceptexternalmaterial.

Theresultisthatlawyersmaybeunabletoshowtheirclientselectronicmaterial.Clientsarethereforeunabletoviewtheevidenceagainstthemuntiltheyhavebeentakentocourt,justbeforetheircourtappearance.Theymaynothaveenoughtimetomakeasounddecisionaboutwhatpleatoenter.Thiscancausedelaystocourtproceedingsandunnecessarilyextendtimeincustody.

TheDepartmenthasbeenmadewellawareoftheconcernsoflegalpractitionersincorrespondence.AmendmentsweremadetothepolicyinJanuary2016butwewereinformedthatlawyerscontinuetoexperienceissuesintakinglaptopsandelectroniclegalmaterialintosomefacilities.

Despitethemattersbeingraisedinfurthercorrespondencebythelegalprofession,theDepartmenthasnotsatisfactorilyresolvedtheissues.

RecommendationDevelopaMemorandumofUnderstandingwithkeylegalbodiestoensureelectroniclegalmaterialcanbeviewedbypeopleincustody.

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4 TheDepartmentismissingopportunitiesTheDepartmenthasembracedtheuseofdigitaltechnologyinsomeareaswithgreatsuccess.However,ithasmissedopportunitiestousethistechnologyinotherareas.

Onereasonforthisisthatthereisnocentralapproachtoidentifythedigitaltechnologyneedsofpeopleincustodyacrosstheentireestate,orhowtheseneedscouldbemet.Individualprisonfacilitiesarelefttosettheirownprioritiesanddeterminehowtoachievethem.

Thisresultsinadisjointedapproachacrosstheprisonestate.Therehavebeensometrialstogainanunderstandingofhowthetechnologycanbeusedandwhatwillberequiredforamorethoroughrollout.However,theystalledbeforestatewideimprovementscouldberealised.

4.1 Videocommunicationiswidelyusedforcourtappearancesbutnotenoughforvisits

Videocommunicationtechnologyallowspeopletoseeandheareachotherinrealtimefromdifferentlocations,andreducestheneedfortravel.TheDepartmentusesavarietyofvideocommunicationtechnologies,includingdedicatedlandlinesforvideolinksandinternet-basedtechnologies,likeSkype.

TheDepartmentusesthistechnologyfor:

• courtappearances• officialvisits,includingappointedprisonvisitorsandvisitingjustices,

lawyers,policeofficersandrepresentativesofgovernmentagencies(e.g.socialservices,immigration,andchildprotection)

• socialvisitsparticularlyinsituationswherethepersonincustodyisalongwayfromtheirfamilyandsocialnetwork

• inter-prisonvisitsbetweenfamilymemberswhoareincarceratedindifferentfacilities

• specialisthealthconsultations.

Courtappearances

Courtappearancesviavideolinksiswellestablishedandextensivelyused.Itresultsinsignificantfinancialsavingsintermsofcourtcustodyandtransportcosts(OICS,2012).Mostvideocommunicationfromcustodyisforthispurpose.

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Officialvisits

Videocommunicationisalsosometimesusedbylawyerstoconsultwiththeirclients.Thissavestraveltimeforthelegalprofessionals.Insomecasesitprovidesadditionalprivacywherethealternativeisholdingaconsultationinacommunalvisitsarea.

However,theuseofthistechnologyislimited.Legalprofessionalsidentifiedseveralreasonsforthis:

• incompatiblevideocommunicationsystems(e.g.videolinkequipmentatWoorolooandAcaciaisnotcompatiblewiththevideolinksystemusedbyLegalAid)

• poorqualityconnectionswhenusinginternet-basedtechnologysuchasSkype

• competingpriorities(courtproceedingstakeprecedenceoverlegalvisitsviaVideolink).

Thereisalsosomeuseofvideocommunicationforotherofficialvisits,suchaslinkinginwithgovernmentagencies.However,theDepartmentdoesnothavereliableinformationastohowoftenthetechnologyisusedforthispurpose.

Socialvisits

Socialvisitsusingvideocommunicationwouldofferanimportantopportunityforpeopleincustodytocontactfamiliesandothersocialsupports,particularlywherepeopleareheldalongwayfromtheirsupport.Suchsituationsoccurwhenpeoplehavefamilyinremotelocations,interstate,oroverseas.

Videocommunicationwouldalsobeavaluabletoolwherefamilyandfriendsareunabletoattendaprisonduetoinjury,illnessorage.

Unliketheuseofvideocommunicationforcourts,thereisnosystemwidecoordinationoftheuseofthistechnologyforsocialvisits.Eachfacilityoperatesindependently,setstheirownpriorityforitsuse,anddeterminesitsownmethodforprovidingthetechnologytotheirfacility.

HakeahasdedicatedcablingtoenableSkypewhichhasbeensuccessful.Otherfacilitieshaveattemptedtoobtaininternet-basedvideocommunicationthroughwirelesstechnologybuttheresultshavebeenmixed.Pardelupusesthisapproachandiscurrentlyrunninganaverageof55socialvisitsviaawirelessnetworkeachweek,butitdoesexperienceintermittentconnectiondifficulties.

Otherfacilitieshavefoundtheservicetobeveryunreliable,particularlyinareaswherethe3Gand4Gmobilebroadbandinternethaspoorcoverage.

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TheDepartmenthasattemptedtoprovideacentralisedapproachtoprovidingthistechnologytoallprisons.TheKnowledgeandInformationTechnologyDirectoratecompletedapilotprojectatBunburyRegionalPrisonin2016.ItranSkypebyusingexistingnetworkcablestosupportanindependentinternetconnection.Thepilotresultedinsubstantialcosts,butinconsistentresultsandanunstableservice.

Thepoorresults,aswellasissuescreatedthroughthemergewiththeformerDepartmentoftheAttorneyGeneral,meanthatthepilotwillnotberolledoutfurtherinitscurrentform.

Ourreportsoverthelast15yearshavemaderepeatedrecommendationstoincreasetheuseofvideocommunicationforsocialpurposes.Eachtimetherecommendationhasbeensupportedatleastinprincipal,butprogresshasbeenslowandinconsistent(seeAppendixC).

Inter-prisonvisits

TheDepartmentusesvideocommunicationtechnologyforinter-prisonvisits.Thisallowsapersonincustodytoreceivevideovisitsfromsomeonewhoisconfinedinanotherprison.ThisisparticularlyimportantfortheyoungpeopleatBanksiaHillDetentionCentre.

Dataontheuseofvideocommunicationforinter-prisonvisitswasnotrecordedaccuratelyorconsistently.However,thedatathatwasavailableindicatedtherewere88successfulinter-prisonvideovisitsinthe2016-17financialyear.TwentyofthesewerefromBanksiaHill.

Whileface-to-facecontactbetweenfamilymembersispreferable,videocommunicationtechnologyofferssignificantcostsavingsandsecuritybenefits.Increaseduseofthistechnologycouldallowformorefrequentinter-prisoncontact.

RecommendationImplementawholeofdepartmentsolutiontoincreasevideocommunicationforofficial,social,andinter-prisonvisits.

4.2 Privatelyoperatedfacilitiesmakegooduseofself-servicekiosksSelf-servicekioskshavebeenimplementedintheprivately-runprisonsofAcacia,Wandoo,andMelaleuca.Thekiosksareplacedincommunallocations.Thekiosksenablepeopleto:

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• accesstheiraccounts• makemenuselections• viewvisitbookings• ordercanteenitems• makeinquiries• bookappointments.

TheuseofthesekiosksimprovesdigitalliteracyforpeopleincustodyastheymimiccommunityfacilitiessuchasATMs,andself-servicedevicesingovernmentdepartmentssuchastheDepartmentofHumanServicesortheDepartmentofTransport.Theyalsoenablepeopleincustodytotakepersonalresponsibilityfortheirday-to-dayactivities,particularlyimportantforthosereturningtothecommunityafteraperiodofprolongedimprisonment.

Kiosksalsocreateefficienciesforprisonsbystreamliningthemanagementofpeopleincustodythroughelectronicappointments,canteenordering,andinquiries.Thiscanfreeuptimepresentlyspentbyofficersprocessingrequestsanddealingwithpaper-basedforms.

TheDepartmenthasrecentlyintroducedInformationKioskstoassistwithtransitionalservicesinthepublicprisons.Thesekiosksprovidepreloadedofflinecontentdesignedtoassistpeoplewithplanningforrelease.Topicsincluded:

• obtainingaccommodation• obtainingdocumentation,suchasbirthcertificatesanddriverslicences• addressingfines• accessingcommunitydrugandalcoholservices.

Whilethesekiosksprovideadditionalaccesstoinformation,theyarenotassophisticatedasthekiosksintheprivatefacilities.Theydonotallowtwo-wayinteractionssuchasbookings,inquiriesorelectronicmessaging.

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CorrectionalagencieswithintheUnitedStatesusetouchscreenkiosktechnologytoprovideextensiveofflinelegaldatabasesandresources.Thisalloweduserstonavigatecomprehensivelegalcontentwhichwasupdatedregularly(LexisNexis).CorrectionalauthoritiesintheUnitedStatesclaimlegalcontentprovidedthroughthesekiosksischeaperthanpurchasinglawbooksandotherlegalmaterials.Thekioskswerepaidforbymoneyspentbypeopleincustodythroughtheircanteens(Hannah,2004).

4.3 WAhasnotattemptedsecureinternetandintranetaccessforpeopleincustody

PeopleincustodyinWesternAustraliahavenodirectinternetaccess.Insomecases,educationorlibrarystaffwillaccesstheinternetonbehalfofaprisonertoassistwitheducationalorlegalrequirements.

Offlineeducationalcontentisoftenloadedontocomputersforpeopleincustodytoaccess.However,accessisonanindividualbasisandtheprocessisinefficient.

Asingleuploadpointwouldensurelegal,educational,andtransitionalmaterialsareuploadedfrequentlyandefficiently.Peopleincustodywouldbenefitfromhavingmoretimely,up-to-dateandconsistentinformation.Thiswouldalsoimprovedepartmentalefficiencybyonlyhavingtouploadinformationonce.

TherewouldalsobesecuritybenefitsfortheDepartment.Informationusecouldbemonitoredelectronically,andstaffmembersdownloadinginformationwouldnolongerhavetomakeanassessmentaboutitsappropriateness.

Therecently-openedEasternRegionalGoldfieldsPrison(EGRP)wasdesignedandbuiltforthe21stCentury,allowingforin-celltechnologyandasecurecellularnetwork.High-speeddatacableswereinstalledwithineachcell,futureproofingtheprisonfortheprovisionofin-celltechnology.

TheDepartmenthasnotproceededwiththeinstallationofin-cellterminalsordevicesatEGRP,despitetheinfrastructurealreadybeinginplace.Ithasthereforemissedtheopportunitytotestin-celltechnologyandtomakeaninformedcost/benefitassessment.

Internetandintranetaccesscanimprovecommunicationforpeopleincustodybyprovidingemail,securemessaging,orvideocommunicationinternalorexternaltotheprison.Thiscanimprovetheabilitytocommunicatewithprisonstaff,legalprofessionals,serviceproviders,externalagencies,andapprovedsocialcontacts.

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Theuseofsecureemailtocommunicatewithpeopleincustodymayalsoofferanefficientalternativetotraditionalmail,particularlyforurgentlegalmatters.Thepotentialrisksofprovidingthistypeofaccesscanbemitigatedthroughauditingcapabilities,remotemonitoring,securedatastorage,andkeywordandkeyphrasefiltering.


TheAustralianCapitalTerritorypermitsdirectinternetaccessforpeopleincustody.Accessisrestrictedtospecificwhitelistedwebsites,includingeducationsites,toenabledetaineestocompletetertiarystudiesviacorrespondence(ACTGovernment,2017).

CorrectiveServicesNewSouthWaleshasasecureoffendercomputernetworkconnectingcorrectionalcentresacrossthestatetoacentralserver.TheOffenderAccessComputerNetworkhasupto2,000recycledcomputersavailableforpeopleincustodytouse(CSNSW,2017).Thisnetworkprovidesaccesstoeducationprograms,onlineassessments,andarangeofsoftwarepackagesandprogramstosupportparticipationineducationanddistancelearning,aswellasotherdepartmentalresources.ALegalInformationPortalisalsoavailableontheNetwork.ThisprovidesplainEnglishlegalresources,anumberofchaptersfromtheLawHandbook,factsheets,andastandaloneversionoftheLegalAidNewSouthWaleswebsite(Becker,2011).

SeveralprisonsinVictoriaprovideprisonerintranetportalsavailablethroughaspeciallydesignedserveranddesktopsystemknownas‘PrisonPC’.ThesesystemshavebeendeliveredthroughPublicPrivatePartnershipstofacilitiesincludingMarngoneetCorrectionalCentre,HopkinsCorrectionalCentre,andtheMetropolitanRemandCentreinVictoria.Theyprovidedirectaccesstolibrary,educational,andlegalservices,aswellasrecreationalcontent.(CyberITSolutionsPrisonPC)

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DepartmentofJusticeresponsetorecommendations

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Recommendation3:DuringourinspectionofBanksiaHillin19-26Julywefoundnewcomputershadbeenpurchasedbutwerenotsetup.AvisittothefacilityinDecembershowedthatthesecomputerswerenowoperational.

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Accesstodigitaltechnologyforpeopleincustodybyfacility(informationprovidedbythefacilities)

Facility

SummaryofAccess

AcaciaPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:1462CommunalcomputersLibrary:16Education:37Other:7

VideocommunicationLegal:30perweekSocial:70perweek

Approximately30self-serviceKiosksareavailableacrossthefacility.Theseallowpeopleincustodytoaccesstheiraccounts,ordercanteenitems,bookappointments,andmakeinquiries.AlbanyRegionalPrison 2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:443 CommunalcomputersLibrary:1Education:20Other:1


Educationcentrehad22e-readers,atabletforgraphicdesignandaninteractivewhiteboard.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.BandyupWomen’sPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:319CommunalcomputersLibrary:3Education:18Other:1


TenuniversitysuppliedlaptopsavailableforstudentsparticipatingintheUniversityofSouthernQueenslandMakingtheConnectionproject.Educationcentrehad13e-readers,aninteractivewhiteboard,aCDburner,andacamera.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.

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BanksiaHillDetentionCentre2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:142CommunalcomputersLibrary:1Education:56


BoroniaPre-ReleaseCentreforWomen2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:90CommunalcomputersLibrary:6Education:5Other:5

VideocommunicationLegal:approximately2permonthSocial:minimal

Educationcentrehadfivee-readers,aninteractivewhiteboard,andonelaptopavailableforstudents.AspartofthePrisonerEmploymentProgram,someresidentshadsupervisedaccesstocomputers,theinternet,andmobilephonesforjobsearchandworkpreparationpurposes.Boroniaalsohadlimiteduseofthe‘email-a-prisoner’service.BroomeRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:58CommunalcomputersLibrary:0Education:0

VideocommunicationLegal:10-15perweekSocial:minimal(asrequested)

BunburyRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:334CommunalcomputersLibrary:5Education:23Other:1

VideocommunicationLegal:20-25perweekSocial:7perweek

Educationcentrehadtwodigitalcameras,aninteractivewhiteboard,andonelaptopavailable.ParticipantsseekingemploymentthroughthePrisonerEmploymentProgramhadsupervisedandlimitedaccesstointernetandemailtoassistwithseekingjobs.Educationparticipantshadsupervisedaccesstouniversitycampuscomputersfortheirstudies.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.

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CasuarinaPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:947CommunalcomputersLibrary:3Education:27Other:6


TenuniversitysuppliedlaptopsavailableforstudentsparticipatingintheMakingtheConnectionproject.Educationcentrehad10e-readers,aninteractivewhiteboard,aCDburner,andtheaudiovisualplatformiTalkwhichenablesstudentstoproduceanimatedfilmsinEnglishorindigenouslanguages.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.EasternGoldfieldsRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:165CommunalcomputersLibrary:2Education:15Other:2

VideocommunicationLegal:NilSocial:1permonth

Educationcentrehadfivelaptops,sixinteractivewhiteboards,CDburner,digitalcamera,andiTalkaudiovisualplatform.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.GreenoughRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:321CommunalcomputersLibrary:0Education:18Other:2(legal)


Educationcentrehadoneuniversitysuppliedlaptop,aninteractivewhiteboard,andaCDburner.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.HakeaPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:1012CommunalcomputersLibrary:5Education:30


Educationcentrehadfoure-readers,alaptop,aninteractivewhiteboard,aCDburner,twosoundrecorders,fourmicrophones,andthreeprojectors.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.

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KarnetPrisonFarm2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:347CommunalcomputersLibrary:5Education:24Other:9

VideocommunicationLegal:0visitsperweekSocial:2-3permonth

Educationcentrehadeighte-readers,aninteractivewhiteboard,recordingdevices,andonelaptopavailable.PrisonerEmploymentProgramparticipantswereabletousecomputersandaccesstheinternetandemailforjob-seekingactivities.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.MelaleucaRemandandReintegrationFacility2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:162CommunalcomputersLibrary:0Education:5

VideocommunicationLegal12perweek:Social:0

Fiveself-servicekioskswereavailableacrossthefacility.Theseallowpeopleincustodytoaccesstheiraccounts,ordercanteenitems,bookappointments,andmakeinquiries.PardelupPrisonFarm2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:81CommunalcomputersLibrary:2Education:7Other:7

VideocommunicationLegal:2permonthSocial:55perweek

Educationcentrehadalaptop,aninteractivewhiteboard,andaCDburner.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.RoebourneRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:174CommunalcomputersLibrary:1Education:24Other:1

VideocommunicationLegal:35-40perweekSocial:0

Educationcentrehadthreeinteractivewhiteboards,alaptop,aCDburner,andtheaudiovisualplatformiTalkwhichenablesstudentstoproduceanimatedfilmsinEnglishorindigenouslanguages.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.

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WandooReintegrationFacility2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:75CommunalcomputersLibrary:2Education:10


Self-servicekiosksareavailableacrossthefacility.Theseallowpeopleincustodytoaccesstheiraccounts,ordercanteenitems,bookappointments,andmakeinquiries.Email-a-prisonerservicewasalsoavailableforresidentswithapproximatelyeightemailsreceivedperweek.WestKimberleyRegionalPrison2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:208CommunalcomputersLibrary:2Education:17Other:1


Educationcentrehadtwolaptops,aninteractivewhiteboard,threeCDburners,andtheaudiovisualplatformiTalkwhichenablesstudentstoproduceanimatedfilmsinEnglishorindigenouslanguages.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.WoorolooPrisonFarm2016-2017DailyAveragePopulation:380CommunalcomputersLibrary:2Education:24Other:3


Educationcentrehadfivee-readers,twolaptops,twocameras,twoCDburners,andtwoelectronicprojectors.AnInformationKioskforprisoneremploymentandtransitionalserviceswasalsoavailable.

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Previousinspectionrecommendationsaboutvideocommunication

Reporttitle ReportDate Reference

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofBandyupWomen’sPrison,Report13

June2002 Recommendation19(p.113)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofAcaciaPrison,Report19

March2003 Recommendation21(p.97)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofBroomeRegionalPrison,Report27


ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofBandyupWomen’sPrison,Report36

June2006 Recommendations8&9(pp.90&94)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofKarnetPrisonFarm,Report47

October2007 Recommendation14(p.45)



ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofWoorolooPrisonFarm,Report61

September2009

Recommendation6(p.42)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofHakeaPrison,Report63

April2010 Recommendation10(p.79)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofGreenoughRegionalPrison,Report66


ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofRangeviewRemandCentre,Report69


ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofBroomeRegionalPrison,Report77


ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofBoroniaPre-ReleaseCentreforWomen,Report79

July2012 Recommendation13(p.53)


August2012 Recommendation11(p.46)


November2012

Recommendation20(p.107)



FemalePrisonsinWesternAustraliaandtheGreenoughWomen’sPrecinct,Report91

July2014 Recommendation13(p.62)

ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofEasternGoldfieldsRegionalPrison,Report92





April2016 Recommendation7(p.89)



ReportofanAnnouncedInspectionofKarnetPrisonFarm,Report105


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MethodologySelf-completionquestionnairesweresenttoeachfacilityrequestingdetailsofthedigitaltechnologyavailableforpeopleincustody.Thisincludedthenumberofcomputersavailablewithinlibrariesandeducationcentres,in-cellaccess,anduseofvideoconferencing.

Weexaminedvariousdepartmentalpolicydocuments,aswellascomplaintsdataandprisonerapplicationsfordepartmentalcomputers.Incidentandsecurityreportsconcerningmisuseofcomputersbypeopleincustodywereexaminedtoidentifyrisksassociatedwithaccesstocomputers.

WeengagedwithvariousexternalstakeholdersincludingtheUniversityofSouthernQueenslandandlegalpractitionersfromLegalAidWesternAustraliaandTheLawSocietyofWesternAustralia.Wealsoliaisedwithcorrectionalagenciesinotherjurisdictions,includingCorrectiveServicesNewSouthWales,CorrectionsVictoria,andQueenslandCorrectiveServicestoconductacross-jurisdictionalanalysisofdigitaltechnologyaccessforpeopleincustody.

WeconductedsitevisitstoanumberoffacilitiesbetweenFebruaryandJuly2017.Duringthesevisitsweobservedthetypesoftechnologyavailableforpeopleincustodyandspoketopeopleabouttheirexperiencesinaccessingdigitaltechnologywhileincustody.Discussionswereheldwithlocalstaffworkinginprisonlibrariesandeducationcentres.

Finally,meetingswereheldwithstafffromtheDepartment,includingtheDirectoroftheEducationandVocationalTrainingUnit,theDirectorOperatingStandardsandProcedures,andtheAssistantDirectorTechnologySystems.

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The Digital Divide: Access to digital technology for people in custody

Februar y 2018www.oics.wa.gov.au

Level 5, Albert Facey House, 469 Wellington Street Perth, Western Australia 6000Telephone: +61 8 6551 4200 Facsimile: +61 8 6551 4216


the digital divide: access to digital technology for

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