The Marshall Government is investing $15 million in a new IT system that will allow the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) to improve the collection, sharing and storage of crucial details of offenders that could play a large role in preventing further crimes and potential terrorist attacks.
The new computer system, named iSAFE, will ensure sensitive and important information related to offenders can be accessed across all relevant law enforcement agencies both throughout South Australia and across the country during unfolding operations.
iSAFE will replace the department's current Justice Information System (JIS), which is more than 30 years old, and will help DCS to better meet the growing complexities of the sector.
Minister for Correctional Services Corey Wingard said the Marshall Government recognises that DCS collects and holds a lot of valuable information about offenders that could be critical intel for operations.
"iSAFE will make that information more easily accessible to law enforcement agencies charged with public safety," Minister Wingard said.
"There have been a number of high-profile terrorism incidents in Australia in which the offenders were known to correctional services.
"Man Monis who carried out the deadly Lindt Café siege in Sydney in 2014 and Yacqub Khayre who murdered a receptionist and held a prostitute hostage in Melbourne in 2017 were both known to the system.
"An inquiry following the Lindt Café siege made several recommendations relating to information sharing and proposed, among other things, a new system to enable the speedy transfer of data from one agency to other relevant agencies that might assist in the response to an act of terrorism."
During a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2017 it was also agreed that corrections agencies needed to provide a greater role in national intelligence data collection and provision.
"At that meeting, all Australian states and territories committed to improving information and iSAFE is a big step towards South Australia fulfilling that commitment."
Other benefits of iSAFE include the removal of paper-based processes, improved cyber security, enhanced case management and better support for real time access to information to ensure safer decision making.
Development of an acquisition plan will begin in coming weeks.
Current timelines have the Department going to market to select a supplier(s) in the second half of 2020 with delivery of stage 1 of iSAFE targeted for completion by the end of 2022.
