Department of Juvenile Justice ignore safety concerns amid escalating violence
On Monday 7 January 2019, Public Service Association representatives from the states six detention centres met with Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) officials in relation to the management of A1(b) high risk offenders.
The meeting with DJJ continues the union’s good faith efforts to address members’ safety concerns amid escalating violence.
Prior to Christmas, the Department put in place a moratorium on the transfer of A1(b) offenders with further union consultation planned for early January.
On 20 December 2018, DJJ provided the PSA a copy of Managing Safety in Juvenile Justice Centres – November 2018. A copy is attached HERE and we’d encourage you to read it and provide us with your feedback.
At yesterday’s meeting the Department advised us of its intention to re-commence phased transfers of A1(b)s to metropolitan centres from Tuesday 8 January 2019, while failing to identify a preferred position from the options canvassed in the agency’s own review.
The PSA believes the Department’s decision to lift the moratorium is dangerous, and the infrastructure is not in place across the system to provide a sufficiently safe environment for staff and detainees. We are currently determining our response.
A further update will follow shortly.
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