Acting inspector of custodial services Eamon Ryan has savaged the conditions of Hakea prison saying it is critically overcrowded and impacting prisoners’ ‘fundamental human rights’.
Mr Ryan inspected the prison in August last year and made 29 recommendations to the Department of Corrective services.
In the report he said Hakea was under enourmous stress and pressure and it was unlikely that would change anytime soon.
“The total prison population is rising at an alarming rate across the entire estate, an increase of 66 per cent in total population over the past nine years, and the remand population is growing at almost double that rate – 129 per cent in the same period,” he said.
“Hakea is chronically full, having to pass on more remand and sentenced prisoners to other facilities, primarily Casuarina Prison, every week to make space for anticipated further court receivals.
“Hakea is also facing significant budget and resource pressures, its operating budget for 2015-16 is just under 20 per cent less than the previous year’s actual expenditure.”
Mr Ryan said the overcrowding and underfunding had resulted in many areas of substandard delivery in the prison.
“These include a failure to ensure that all prisoners are given an adequate opportunity to call loved ones on being received into custody, uphold prisoner rights to privacy and dignity, provide quality contact with prisoner’s children, prepare one’s legal defence and practice religious expression,” he said.
“We were especially concerned at the continuing failure to reduce the high risk of blood-borne viruses. This was mainly through sharing of needles and other sharp instruments used for drug use and tattoos.”
Mr Ryan recommended the State Government build a new purpose built remand facility, improve prisoner contact with family and legal advice and review prison catering.
He also suggested improving prisoner incentives and upgrade the prison’s CCTV network.
The Department of Corrective Services acknowledged the report and a spokesman said it was already implementing 26 of the 29 recommendations.
Corrective Services Commissioner James McMahon said he appreciated Mr Ryan’s focus on prisoner welfare as it was a ‘shared concern’.
“Operating correctional services is being made more complex by the growth in prisoner numbers, but we are confident that our optimisation plans, additional beds, a new facility and the dedication of our staff mean we can still deliver a safe and effective service,” he said.
“The department has additional obligations to its staff and the people of WA and operates in a complex environment, where balancing the safety and security of prisoners with the safety of staff and delivering on the community expectations is of utmost importance.”
He said WA had the lowest recidivism rates in Australia, escapes were down and their cost per prisoner was also down.
“These statistics clearly indicate we are delivering,” he said.
