Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services
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The latest news from OICS.

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.
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.
Bunbury Regional Prison: A Well Performing Facility14/04/09
The Inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison in August 2008 took place in the shadow of the events of 2005 when a traumatic hostage situation had been followed by the tragic death of a staff member.
Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre: The Challenge of Future Accommodation Planning16/02/09
At the last inspection in March 2005 the Inspector concluded that Banksia Hill was 'one of the best-performing institutions within the remit of the Department of Corrective Services'. The conclusion to be drawn from this inspection is not so fulsome.
Bandyup Women's Prison: Progress but further improvement required20/01/09
The third inspection of Bandyup Women's Prison produced a mixed result in identifying both considerable gains in some areas, alongside those in which further improvement is clearly needed.Bandyup Women's Prison continues to progress, but there is some way to go before the prison can genuinely claim to be delivering a women-centred custodial management regime, and to be meeting the needs of Aboriginal women.
Broome Regional Prison Yet to Demonstrate Sustained Improvement18/12/08
The key findings were to confirm that racist, prejudice and culturally insensitive behaviour persisted at the prison; the prison was still beset by ongoing staff shortages; and there continued to be a lack of leadership in the prison.
Well-Designed District Court Custody Centre30/09/08
Overall, the design of both the security and amenity of the District Court Custody Centre far exceeds anything that has previously been achieved in Western Australia.
Improved Performance at Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison30/09/08
It is pleasing to report that Eastern Goldfields is no longer in any significant way a racist environment and there have been significant improvements in other key aspects of the functioning of the prison.
Privatisation comes full circle in Western Australia: improved performance at Acacia30/07/08
Professor Richard Harding, the retiring Inspector of Custodial Services, yesterday released an Inspection Report relating to Acacia Prison.
Professor Richard Harding, First Inspector of Custodial Services, To Leave Position on 31 July22/07/08
Richard Harding, appointed as the inaugural Inspector from 1st August 2000, will step down at the end of this month after eight years in the position.
Roebourne Regional Prison Remains Stable17/06/08
The findings of this short follow-up inspection were reassuring. Despite the labour market challenges of maintaining a workforce in non-mining activities in the Pilbara, sufficient staff are available most of the time.
Incipient Crisis in the Juvenile Estate03/06/08
Rangeview is now unable to sustain its previous role as accommodation for the entire remand population, and currently houses all female detainees, both sentenced and remand.
A Ground Breaking Project Comes to Fruition03/06/08
The Inspector of Custodial Services Richard Harding commented that “this is the most comprehensive analysis of assessment and classification that has so far occurred within Australia”.
Reconciliation Action Plan13/05/08
As part of the Office's commitment to valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their culture and heritage, a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group has been established comprising representatives from all branches. This Group has developed the RAP, will monitor its implementation and ensure it remains relevant and is achieving its objectives.
Should Smoking be Banned in Prison?12/05/08
"The first of these papers confronts the question of whether smoking should be banned in prison. This is a pertinent issue because the introduction of smoking bans in a number of prison jurisdictions around the world has generated discussion about whether this should happen here in Western Australia.
Casuarina Prison stable and well-managed, though not without its problems, says Inspector of Custodial Services06/05/08
In a Report tabled in Parliament today, the Inspector of Custodial Services stated that the State's main maximum-security prison, Casuarina, was stable and well-managed at the time of the 2007 inspection.
Roebourne Prison survives a long, hot summer, but questions remain as to its viability06/05/08
Releasing a Report into an Inspection of Roebourne Prison today, the Inspector of Custodial Services, Professor Richard Harding, stated that the inspection of Roebourne Prison in December 2006 had revealed substantial and imminent risk of regime breakdown.
Prisoner Transport01/02/08
The death of a prisoner being transported in extreme heat from Laverton to Kalgoorlie on Sunday has highlighted the failures of the prisoner transport system in Western Australia.
Novation and Renewal of the Prisoner Transport and Court Security Contract26/11/07
I expressed to Government my firm opinion that this contract should be market-tested rather than novated directly from AIMS to GSL.
Disability Access and Inclusion Plan now available15/11/07
The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services has now finalised its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
Karnet a good prison, but the Department still wants to close it: Inspector slams 13/11/07
Releasing his Inspection Report of Karnet Prison Farm today, the Inspector of Custodial Services Richard Harding drew attention to the apparent lack of commitment by the Department of Corrective Services to the Prison's future.
The Government's commitment to a new prison at Derby clarifies the future role of Broome Regional Prison13/11/07
Releasing his Report relating to the 2007 inspection of Broome Regional Prison, the Inspector of Custodial Services Richard Harding welcomed the fact that some tangible improvements had occurred since the last inspection in 2004.
Hakea Prison coping for the time being with unprecedented prisoner population pressures13/11/07
Releasing his Inspection Report relating to Hakea Prison today, the Inspector of Custodial Services Richard Harding acknowledged the good work that Hakea staff were doing in coping with unprecedented prisoner numbers.
Independent Visitors - 'Ordinary' People making a Difference25/09/07
An annual forum was held last month for the Volunteer Independent Visitors Scheme managed by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.
OICS submission on Human Rights Bill 200717/09/07
Submission by the Inspector of Custodial Services on issues relating to prisoners, juvenile detainees and other persons who are subject to some supervision or sanction as part of the criminal justice process.