People in custody experiencing acute distress should have access to appropriate crisis care. Mental health disorders affect a significant proportion of the Australian community. It is estimated that approximately 44 per cent of Australians have experienced some form of mental illness within their lifetime (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2022). Consequently, this trend translates into custodial populations with people in custody experiencing high levels of psychological distress and mental illness. The high rate of mental illness can lead persons in custody to be at an increased risk of self-harm or suicide which requires intervention in the form of crisis care.
Many of the larger metropolitan facilities in Western Australia have dedicated crisis care units. These spaces are often in addition to ‘safe cells’ or ‘observational cells’ for those experiencing an immediate threat to self or others. However, smaller facilities including minimum-security and regional facilities may be less equipped to support of the needs and requirements of people in custody experiencing crises. A range of accommodation is needed to support the overall health and wellbeing of this cohort. This includes general accommodation units, step-up and step-down subacute units and more intensive supervision settings with access to appropriate support services.
Previous OICS inspection reports have found the existing physical infrastructure to be anti-therapeutic in design and functionality. This is critical as the physical environment can impact an individual’s social and emotional wellbeing and behaviour (Lopez & Maiello-Reidy, 2017).
Crisis care accommodation should be designed to facilitate recovery and rehabilitation. Environments which incorporate elements of nature and ample natural lighting have been shown to positively enhance psychological wellbeing (Nanda et al., 2013). Wide open spaces with clear sightlines allow for predictability and can reduce psychological stress. Similarly, soft furnishings and the use of specific colours can have a calming effect (Lopez & Maiello-Reidy, 2017).
In recent years, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recorded an increasing number of self-harm related incidents in adult prisons and youth detention. These include attempted suicides, serious self-harms, and minor self-harms. Between 2018-2023, there was a 113 per cent increase in self-harm incidents. Consequently, this highlights the need for appropriate crisis care support and accommodation.
This review will examine the availability and design of crisis care accommodation in custody and the experiences of people using these facilities. It will be guided by the following terms of reference:
- What is the experience of people in custody who access crisis care accommodation?
- Does crisis care accommodation adhere to therapeutic design principles?
- Is there sufficient crisis care accommodation to meet demand?
A report on this review is anticipated to be available to the public.
