❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Department of Corrective Services regarding overcrowding at Bandyup Women's Prison, specifically inquiring about the frequency and management of exceeding bed capacity. The Department acknowledges overcrowding and outlines measures taken.
AnsweredQoN 6036Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the attachment to question A9 'Prison Population – Operational Count (as at 11 July 2012)' provided to the Estimates and Financial Operations Committee by the Department of Corrective Services during the 2012-2013 Budget Estimates Hearings, and I ask —
(1) In how many weeks out of the past 52 weeks has the Bandyup prisoner population count exceeded that prison's total available bed capacity?
(2) In those weeks, where did the excess population of Bandyup sleep?
(1) In how many weeks out of the past 52 weeks has the Bandyup prisoner population count exceeded that prison's total available bed capacity?
(2) In those weeks, where did the excess population of Bandyup sleep?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Education representing the Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
35 days
(1) The Department of Corrective Services (the Department) advises that between 18 September 2011 and 18 September 2012, the prisoner population at Bandyup Women's Prison (Bandyup) exceeded its total bed capacity on 200 days out of 367, which was spread out across 32 weeks.
(2) During times when Bandyup exceeds its capacity, the prison manages the issue accordingly by placing two women in cells originally designed for single cell occupancy by sleeping women on mattresses on the floor. There are occasions when some prisoners, particularly Indigenous women, are housed together by preference which can also result in two females sharing single cells.
The incidences of women sleeping on mattresses on the floor have been as a result of the need to implement emergency measures to manage a period of growth in the female estate and is certainly not the preferred practice for the Department. 74 additional beds are scheduled to be added before the end of the year in Greenough and West Kimberley to ease population pressures.
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(2) During times when Bandyup exceeds its capacity, the prison manages the issue accordingly by placing two women in cells originally designed for single cell occupancy by sleeping women on mattresses on the floor. There are occasions when some prisoners, particularly Indigenous women, are housed together by preference which can also result in two females sharing single cells.
The incidences of women sleeping on mattresses on the floor have been as a result of the need to implement emergency measures to manage a period of growth in the female estate and is certainly not the preferred practice for the Department. 74 additional beds are scheduled to be added before the end of the year in Greenough and West Kimberley to ease population pressures.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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