Western Australian Consolidated Acts

PRISONS ACT 1981 - SECT 95

95 .         Preparation and implementation of activity programmes

        (1)         Without limiting the responsibility of the chief executive officer for the welfare of prisoners conferred by section 7(1), the chief executive officer may arrange for the provision of services and programmes for the wellbeing and rehabilitation of prisoners.

        (2)         In particular, services and programmes may be designed and instituted with the intention of — 

            (a)         promoting the health and wellbeing of prisoners; and

            (b)         enabling prisoners to acquire knowledge and skills that will assist them to adopt law abiding lifestyles on release; and

            (c)         assisting prisoners to integrate within the community on release; and

            (d)         maintaining and strengthening supportive family, community and cultural relationships for prisoners; and

            (e)         providing counselling services and other assistance to prisoners and their families in relation to personal and social matters and problems; and

            (f)         providing opportunities for prisoners to utilise their time in prison in a constructive and beneficial manner by means of educational and occupational training programmes and other means of self improvement; and

            (g)         providing opportunities for work, leisure activities, and recreation; and

            (h)         assisting prisoners to make reparation for the offences they have committed.

        (3)         Subject to subsection (4) a prisoner cannot be compelled to use or participate in services or programmes provided under this section.

        (4)         As long as a prisoner is medically fit the prisoner may be required to work.

        (5)         The chief executive officer is to ensure that, in the provision of services and programmes under this section, the needs of female prisoners and prisoners who are Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders are addressed.

        (6)         Services and programmes under this section may be provided inside or outside a prison.

        (7)         A prisoner may be confined in a facility outside a prison to facilitate the prisoner being provided with opportunities for work or participation in services or programmes under this section.

        (8)         This section does not authorise a prisoner to be absent from a prison, or facility referred to in subsection (7), without an absence permit.

        [Section 95 inserted by No. 65 of 2006 s. 32.]