Department of Corrective Services

The intensive supervision program is part of the $18.9 million juvenile justice reform strategy.

The program is an Australian first, aimed at the small group of about 200 juveniles who commit serious and/or repeat offences and are responsible for a large percentage of juvenile crime in this State.

The new intensive supervision program (ISP) targets 10-17 year old offenders who are one step away from detention as well as those coming out of detention.

The ISP is based on an internationally renowned intervention model, called multisystemic therapy (MST), which is backed by 30 years of applied research. MST is currently used in 30 American states, Canada, the UK, Europe and New Zealand. Evaluations of the program have shown a 25-70% reduction in the severity and frequency of re-offending.

ISP involves teams of specialist staff working intensively with the offenders and their families for up to six months. The ISP staff share a roster to be available for families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are three clinicians, a supervisor and an Aboriginal team advisor (ATA) in each team. The ATA works with the clinicians and families to ensure cross-cultural sensitivity and that the programs best match to the needs of Aboriginal clients, families and communities.

The ISP provides the tools and opportunities for offenders and their families to make changes to their lives to reduce the risk of re-offending. The program addresses the many factors related to juvenile offending including family relations, peer relations, school and vocational performance, neighbourhood characteristics and community factors. ISP uses the strengths within all these systems to facilitate change.

Ultimately, the program aims to provide parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address anti-social behaviour and provide the juvenile with the skills to cope with family, peer, school, cross-cultural and neighbourhood demands.

ISP staff work with small case loads of 3-6 families, which ensures the required level of intervention intensity.

Only juvenile justice officers can refer offenders to the intensive supervision program.

There are currently three ISP teams operating in the metropolitan area, based at Midland, Belmont and Mirrabooka. Each team sees families and offenders within a 10 km radius of the base. There are two regional teams based in Kalgoorlie and Geraldton.

Aims of the Intensive Supervision Program

• Reduce juvenile offending and antisocial behaviour
• Improve caregiver discipline practices
• Enhance family relationships
• Emphasis on parental empowerment
• Decrease juvenile association with deviant peers
• Increase juvenile association with pro-social peers
• Encourage juveniles to mix with supportive and positive peers
• Improve juvenile school or vocational performance
• Develop a support network of extended family, neighbours and friends to help caregivers achieve and maintain changes
• Use an outreach and home based perspective
• Reduce substance misuse.

Information on Multisystemic Therapy can be found at www.mstservices.com

Intensive Supervision Program Administration
3 Walcott Street
MOUNT LAWLEY  WA  6050
Telephone: (08) 9229 6500