Rehabilitative needs and treatment of Indigenous offenders in ...

The number of male non-Indigenous offender enrolments in substancemisuse programs doubled in 2008-09 (657) when compared with enrolmentsin 2006-07 (323) and 2007-08 (321).The completion rates for male non-Indigenous participants in substancemisuse programs remained relatively stable between 2006-07 and 2008-09 –with approximately three in every four participants completing their program.The combined total substance misuse program completion rate during thethree year period for male Indigenous participants is 73 per cent compared to77 per cent for male non-Indigenous offenders.Table 6.5: Substance Misuse Programs, Male Offenders2006-07 2007-08 2008-09Indigenous Non-IndigenousIndigenous Non-IndigenousIndigenous Non-IndigenousComplete 54 84% 238 74% 64 79% 258 80% 132 67% 502 76%Incomplete 10 16% 85 26% 17 21% 63 20% 66 33% 155 24%TotalEnrolments 64 323 81 321 198 657Source: QCS, IOMSFemale offenders participate in substance misuse programs including GettingSmart, Do It, Substance Misuse, Preventing and Managing Relapse andSmart Recovery.Table 6.6 shows that similar to male participation, the number of femalesparticipating in substance misuse programs increased between 2006-07 and2008-09. There are eight female Indigenous offender enrolments in substancemisuse programs in 2006-07, nine in 2007-08, and 20 in 2008-09. Incomparison, female non-Indigenous offenders have 30 enrolments in 2006-07, 51 in 2007-08 and 63 in 2008-09.The completion rate for female Indigenous participants declined over time,while increasing for female non-Indigenous participants, however Indigenousoffender numbers for completion/incompletion per year were too small tomake any significant inferences. The combined total completion rate forfemale Indigenous participants for the three years is 60 per cent, comparedwith 76 per cent of female non-Indigenous participants.49