The latest news from OICS.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Greenough Regional Prison19/04/13
The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services has released the report of an announced inspection
of Greenough Regional Prison ('Greenough') conducted in October 2012. The overall conclusion ofthe report is broadly consistent with the findings of earlier inspections: the prison is a solid
performer which generally goes about its business in an efficient way, free of major controversies
and major incidents. However, it is in the midst of some very significant changes, including
infrastructure upgrades, management changes and the influx of a larger number of female prisoners.
Media Release: Report of an Announced Inspection of Hakea Prison17/01/13
The Inspector of Custodial Services has released the report of an announced inspection of Haka Prison conducted in May-June 2012. In launching the report, the Inspector Neil Morgan said:
'Hakea is a complex facility, which comes not only from its functions but also its culture, history and relationships. This inspection identified many examples of staff getting on with the job in a pragmatic and resourceful way despite some infrastructure challenges. Unfortunately, however, the prison has suffered from a negative and divided workplace culture for too long. This has been affecting relationships and performance and needs to change.'
Report of an Announced Inspection of Wooroloo Prison Farm16/10/12
Wooroloo, like all prisons, faces budgetary constraints which are most unlikely to ease over the coming years. In essence, this report shows that it does a good job within those constraints. Wooroloo plays a major role as a ‘re-entry’ facility . It generally does a good a job in terms of skill development and community outreach. However, the Inspector again voiced his concern at the low number of Aboriginal prisoners accessing the state's best-equipped re-entry prisons
Report of Announced Inspection of Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women11/09/12
The Inspector of Custodial Services has released a report of an inspection of Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women. The report finds that Boronia continues to provide a safe, secure, calm and supportive environment for the women who are housed there.However, the Inspector of Custodial Services, Professor Neil Morgan said, that there are opportunitites for further development if Boronia is to maximise its potential.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Albany Regional Prison07/08/12
The latest report by the Inspector of Custodial Services has concluded that Albany Regional Prison is one of the state's best performing prisons. The report also contains the first independent case study of Indonesian prisoners in an Australian jail.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Broome Regional Prison12/06/12
In releasing his report of an inspection of Broome Regional Prison conducted in September 2011, the Inspector of Custodial Services, Neil Morgan, noted that there have been a number of improvements at the prison but that it faces an uncertain future:
'In the last five years, around $11 million has been invested in Broome's physical infrastructure. There have also been improvements to the general culture, management and accountability of the prison. However, it remains small and overcrowded. And progress is fragile because of uncertainty about the prison's future.'
Report of an Announced Inspection of Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre20/03/12
Compared with the 2008 inspection, this report makes several positive findings with respect to Banksia Hill's operations and 'climate'. In particular, despite the physical and cultural challenges posed by redevelopment, it has maintained a good standard of care to detainees and a pro-social environment. However, the report also identifies some pressure points. One relates to supply and demand at the remodelled centre.
Report of An Announced Inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison 20/01/12
The Inspector of Custodial Services has found that Bunbury Regional Prison is generally performing well but that it has been in a period of transition and faces a number of significant challenges. The report notes that Bunbury has been one of the State's better
performing prisons over the past decade, and finds that there remain very many positive aspects to its operations.
Review of Regional Youth Custodial Transport Services in Western Australia20/10/11
The trial transfer of responsibility for the transport of young offenders in regional and remote Western Australia from the police to the Department of Corrective Services has been a success, according to a review by the Inspector of Custodial Services.The review provides an independent assessment of a 12-month trial that shifted responsibility for transporting remanded and sentenced young people in regional and remote Western Australia from the police to specially trained staff of the Youth Custodial Services division within the Department.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Acacia Prison17/05/11
Acacia, the State's largest and only privately operated prison, is delivering quality services, meeting high accountability standards, and providing value for money, according to a new report from the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Roebourne Regional Prison05/04/11
The latest report by the Inspector of Custodial Services finds that progress has been made in some key areas at Roebourne Regional Prison over the past three years. However, significant issues remain with respect to the ailing infrastructure, limited service provision for prisoners and the lack of longer term planning for the region. Two areas have improved markedly. First, the prison now has sufficient locally based custodial staff so potentially risky fly-in fly-out system of staffing arrangements could be ended. Secondly, the prison has worked locally to secure excellent partnerships, notably with Rio Tinto, for the training of Aboriginal prisoners to secure work in the mining industry upon release.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Rangeview Remand Centre15/12/10
Keeping young people out of custody has to be a key focus as the Department of Corrective Services develops its new model for youth justice services according to the latest report from the Inspector of Custodial Services.'Despite some important initiatives to reduce the number of unnecessary remands, we saw record high numbers of young people being held in custody earlier this year. Rangeview reached an all-time population peak of 96 detainees on 20 May 2010. Given the physical conditions and available resources, the appropriate population for the Centre would be closer to 60,' Inspector Neil Morgan said.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Casuarina Prison09/11/10
Concern about the increasingly high number of non-maximum security prisoners being held in the State's highest security prison was identified in the most recent inspection report of Casuarina Prison from the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.
Karnet Prison Farm - a consistantly good performer08/09/10
The third inspection by the Inspector of Custodial Services of Karnet Prison Farm has reinforced the position of the prison as a consistently good performer. The Inspector, Neil Morgan, said that Karnet had performed well as a facility preparing prisoners for release back into the community despite the pressure of high prisoner numbers and underinvestment in its infrastructure and other resources.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Greenough Regional Prison10/08/10
While there were many areas of good performance at Greenough, the prison was under pressure from overcrowding and from uncertainty about future expansion plans. Overcrowding had particularly impacted on prisoners' living conditions and employment opportunities. The Report also draws attention to serious risks associated with the design of some of the bunk beds that are in use at Greenough and other prisons across the State.
Thematic Review of Court Security and Custodial Services16/07/10
The release of the latest inspection report by the Inspector of Custodial Services reflects both the needless tragedy and the acceptance of lessons learned from the death of Mr Ward in the back of a transport vehicle on 27 January 2008. Professor Morgan noted that while there have been many improvements in transport arrangements, there is still more to be done.
'The focus must be on continuing the work done over the past two years to improve conditions of people in custody generally as well as those being transported. The report identifies several further improvements that can contribute to safer, more humane and more effective services. The critical issue is not whether such services are provided by the public or the private sector but duty of care and quality of service.'
Report of an Inspection of the District Court Building Services Contract28/06/10
In releasing the report, Professor Morgan, said: 'The District Court Building is a first rate
facility that should stand the test of time. Professor Morgan noted that there had already been a positive response to many of the
report's recommendations from the contractors involved and the contract management team at
the Department of Corrective Services.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Hakea Prison15/06/10
Despite the intense pressure created by extreme overcrowding, the inspection of Hakea Prison
conducted by the Inspector of Custodial Services in November 2009 found a prison that was coping
remarkably well. The Report does, however, raise a number of issues of real concern, not just for Hakea itself but the
prison system as a whole.
Report of an Announced Inspection of Wooroloo Prison10/11/09
While many positive aspects of prison operations were still found to be happening at Wooroloo Prison Farm, the April 2009 Inspection found that numerous factors had contributed to a slide in the prison's previously high performance.
Redesigning Prisons For Young Men and Juveniles03/09/09
The Inspector of Custodial Services wants to ensure that an innovative approach to the rehabilitation of
young male offenders is taken in the development of a new custodial facility for young offenders aged
between 18 and 22. To assist in achieving these goals, the Inspector has released a discussion paper
which focuses attention on the philosophies, legislation, policies, regimes and resources that will be
needed to ensure success.
Albany Regional Prison: A Well Performing Prison With Further Potential12/06/09
The third announced inspection of Albany Regional Prison was carried out from the 2nd to the 7th of November 2008. The previous inspection in 2006 found that the prison was 'performing to a good level, and is certainly one of the best in the state', and it is
encouraging to note that the findings of the current inspection are generally positive, notwithstanding there are issues to be addressed.
