14/04/09

BUNBURY REGIONAL PRISON: A WELL-PERFORMING FACILITY
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. However, without diminishing the ongoing impact of that tragedy, the focus of the inspection was an assessment of the extent to which Bunbury Prison, historically a well-performing facility, had recovered to its previous level of performance.

In this context it is important to note that the prison has faced a number of disruptions and challenges in the intervening years, not least of which has been an extensive and almost continuous capital works program, including a new 72 bed minimum security pre-release centre. Also significant has been the changing demographic of the prisoner population, whereby the number of prisoners convicted of sex offences had decreased at the same time as the proportion of violent offenders had increased dramatically. Despite these challenges it is pleasing to report that the Prison is continuing to perform well, and in general the findings of the inspection are positive.

The continued success of the Prison is due in no small part to the stable and very capable leadership team within the prison, including the Senior Officer group. The team at Bunbury are ably supported by pro-active staff and peer (prisoner) support groups. These groups are the most active and successful this Office has encountered across the prison system. In particular, the peer support group, led very ably by the Prison Support Officer, is respected by management, staff and prisoners and contributes greatly to the good management of the prison.

The main issues of concern at Bunbury Prison are the perennial, systemic shortcomings found across the Western Australian prison system. In particular, the shortfall in programs within the prison system, and especially the lack of availability of culturally appropriate programs for Aboriginal prisoners. However, there are also concerns with the generally poor preparation of prisoners for release and reintegration back into the community within the prison system, notwithstanding that the opening of the pre-release centre is likely to improve this situation.

Whilst the Prison continues to function well, pressure on the Department of Corrective Services in relation to programmatic and pre-release services across the prison system will only increase given the projected increase in prisoner numbers due to natural growth, increased police activity, and changes to truth-in-sentencing laws (by some estimates another 1300 prisoners in the next 5 years).

The very significant challenge for the Department, and one in which it has not demonstrated a good track record in the past, is to develop and maintain programmatic and pre-release services commensurate with the growth in prisoner numbers. This Office will continue to closely monitor the provision of these services as the situation with respect to increased prisoner numbers unfolds in coming months.

Professor Neil Morgan
Inspector of Custodial Services
14 April 2009

Neil Morgan will be available for comment from 12 noon on Tuesday 14 April and can be contacted on
9212 6200 or 0404 852 304.

The 'Report of an Announced Inspection of Bunbury Regional Prison' is available by clicking on the link below.

Download : Media Release (PDF)
Download : Bunbury Regional Prison Inspection Report (PDF)