Integrated Offender Management

In pursuit of best practice in offender management, and in support of the Tasmania Together goal of having 'a community where people feel safe and are safe in all aspects of their lives', the Minister for Justice has approved the introduction of a new model of Integrated Offender Management (IOM) for the TPS.

IOM is a cooperative and coordinated approach to the management of offenders that supports a goal of reduced re-offending, and also aims to ensure that the safety, security, health and welfare needs of prisoners and detainees are addressed in an effective manner.

The concept of integration is critical to the success of IOM and in Tasmania, a 'through care' model for reducing re-offending has been introduced, that supports integration both within the TPS, and between the TPS and a range of key external stakeholders.  The key components of the model are:

• Reception and induction;
• Assessment;
• Sentence planning;
• Case management; and
• Reintegration.

These components will be supported by the following mechanisms/systems aimed at ensuring the safety, security and good order of the correctional environment:

• Suicide and Self-Harm (SASH) system;
• Classification/placement processes;
• 'Personal contract' system;
• Disciplinary process; and
• Therapeutic (psychological) services.

IOM within the TPS will be based upon the following principles:

• The safety, security, health and welfare needs of prisoners and detainees are a first order priority;
• Prisoners and detainees will be assessed in a timely and systematic manner in relation to in-prison vulnerability, risk of re-offending, and criminogenic and social needs;
• Individual Sentence/Management Plans will be developed to meet identified needs;
• A key focus of IOM is the successful reintegration of prisoners into the community, in a manner that reduces the likelihood of reoffending;
• Correctional staff will actively participate in case management;
• A cooperative and equal partnership will exist between all areas of the Prison Service, with the aim of establishing an appropriate balance between the dual aims of reducing re-offending and maintaining safety and security.
• Partnerships will be developed with external stakeholders to support through care processes; and
• All elements of the IOM framework will be evidence based and supported by documented policies, processes and procedures.

The IOM will be progressively implemented during 2006/07-2007/08.