Not all people with intellectual disabilities who enter custody in Western Australia are identified or adequately catered for or supported. While improvements to identification processes have occurred, the number of people identified as having an intellectual disability remains low compared to research estimates. An over reliance on self-reporting and inadequate information sharing practices compound this issue. As a result, there are likely to be many people in both adult and youth custody with an intellectual disability who are yet to be identified.
For those who are identified, there are limited adjustments or supports available. There are few dedicated living areas available and custodial staff are provided with limited training. The Department would benefit from developing an overarching model or framework to support people in custody with any form of disability to ensure they receive the supports they require throughout their custodial journey of rehabilitation and reintegration.