DV WAITING GAME
CONVICTED domestic violence criminals are having to wait at least six months for vital prevention courses while on parole because demand for the training is too high.
A Southport court was also told prisoners are not able to receive any domestic violence prevention training while in custody.
The courses aim to show perpetrators how damaging their behaviour is and provide coping mechanisms to prevent reoffending.
CONVICTED domestic violence criminals are not being placed in vital prevention courses for at least six months while on parole because demand for the training is too high.
A Southport court was also told prisoners were not able to receive any domestic violence prevention training while in custody.
But the State Government said they were “working” to reduce the waiting list for the program and a course is also being trialled in prison.
In two separate sentencing hearings for domestic violence perpetrators in the Southport District Court last week, Judge David Kent questioned prosecutors and the Queensland Corrective Services court liaison officer about what preventive courses were available.
“I presume there are no programs available in custody,” Judge Kent asked. The QCS liaison replied: “That’s correct. Not that I am aware of, but there may be some supplementary counselling.”
Defence barristers and prosecutors both also told the court they were unaware of any such programs in prison.
The courses aim to show perpetrators how damaging their behaviour is and provide coping mechanisms to prevent reoffending.
Prosecutor Kathleen Christopherson said there was a six to 12-month waiting list for the 27-week domestic violence prevention course offered by corrective services once an offender was on parole.
The QCS court liaison officer confirmed this and said in the interim parolees were offered “psychological counselling” in an effort to discourage repeat offending.
Due to a legislative requirement a judge or magistrate cannot order a domestic violence prevention program as part of parole requirements. The order has to come from the QCS chief executive once the person is on parole.
Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said due to the large number of perpetrators the Government was “prioritising” the issue.
“We’re trialling the Disrupting Family Violence Program (DFVP) – created by an international domestic violence expert – in Woodford, Wolston and Maryborough Correctional Centres,” he said.
“This program is having immediate success in curbing the abhorrent behaviours that lead perpetrators to offend.”
But, he had few details on the plans to curb the waiting list of the program while on parole.
“South Coast Community Corrections are working with the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre to increase the number of placements in perpetrator programs in coming months,” he said.