❓ Mr. Omodei questions the Minister for Justice regarding prison overcrowding in WA, specifically the discrepancies between bed capacities and prisoner numbers at several prisons. The Minister's response indicates reliance on agreements with the Prison Officers Union and improved management practices to address the issue.
AnsweredQoN 317Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) will the Minister explain the following differences between prison bed capacities and prisoner numbers as at 19 May 2005 - (i) Bandyup - 15 more prisoners than beds; (ii) Broome - 4 more prisoners than beds; (iii) Bunbury - 10 more prisoners than beds; (iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds; (c) in situations where there are a greater number of prisoners than beds, how and where are the excess prisoners housed at each of these prisons; and (d) in situations where there are a greater number of prisoners than beds, are additional staff put on duty to manage the increased prisoner population?
(ii) Broome - 4 more prisoners than beds; (iii) Bunbury - 10 more prisoners than beds; (iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(iii) Bunbury - 10 more prisoners than beds; (iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(d) in situations where there are a greater number of prisoners than beds, are additional staff put on duty to manage the increased prisoner population?
The Department of Justice advises (a) See Tabled Paper (b-d) Agreements are negotiated with Western Australian Prison Officers Union to implement contingency planning for increases in muster above the Prison Design Capacity. These contingencies are based on muster bands and involve the implementation of additional resourcing and modified processes to meet the operational demands and ensure safety and security. Prisoner Numbers pressures will dictate that at certain times the negotiated muster bands will be temporarily exceeded. Where this occurs the local prison Administration will negotiate with the relevant prison's Vigilance Officer/s to implement the additional resourcing and processes required. The original prison design capacity also relates to the provision of other facilities within the prison, e.g. number of anticipated visits, recreation areas, prisoner movement controls within the prison, etc and is calculated at the time the prison was built. However, continuous improvement in the management of prisoners including enhanced procedures; optimisation of resources; improved constructive day activities and programs for prisoners; improved prisoner movement controls and segregation capacity within the prison environment; and agreements negotiated with the Union to increase staffing numbers commensurate with prescribed muster bands, has allowed for a safe increase in numbers over the original prison design capacity.
(ii) Broome - 4 more prisoners than beds; (iii) Bunbury - 10 more prisoners than beds; (iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(iii) Bunbury - 10 more prisoners than beds; (iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(iv) Casuarina - 147 more prisoners than beds; (v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(v) Greenough - 28 more prisoners than beds; (vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(vi) Hakea - 51 more prisoners than beds; and (vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(vii) Roebourne - 47 more prisoners than beds;
(d) in situations where there are a greater number of prisoners than beds, are additional staff put on duty to manage the increased prisoner population?
The Department of Justice advises (a) See Tabled Paper (b-d) Agreements are negotiated with Western Australian Prison Officers Union to implement contingency planning for increases in muster above the Prison Design Capacity. These contingencies are based on muster bands and involve the implementation of additional resourcing and modified processes to meet the operational demands and ensure safety and security. Prisoner Numbers pressures will dictate that at certain times the negotiated muster bands will be temporarily exceeded. Where this occurs the local prison Administration will negotiate with the relevant prison's Vigilance Officer/s to implement the additional resourcing and processes required. The original prison design capacity also relates to the provision of other facilities within the prison, e.g. number of anticipated visits, recreation areas, prisoner movement controls within the prison, etc and is calculated at the time the prison was built. However, continuous improvement in the management of prisoners including enhanced procedures; optimisation of resources; improved constructive day activities and programs for prisoners; improved prisoner movement controls and segregation capacity within the prison environment; and agreements negotiated with the Union to increase staffing numbers commensurate with prescribed muster bands, has allowed for a safe increase in numbers over the original prison design capacity.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 September 2005
Responded by
Minister for Justice
Response time
37 days
The Department of Justice advises (a) See Tabled Paper (b-d) Agreements are negotiated with Western Australian Prison Officers Union to implement contingency planning for increases in muster above the Prison Design Capacity. These contingencies are based on muster bands and involve the implementation of additional resourcing and modified processes to meet the operational demands and ensure safety and security. Prisoner Numbers pressures will dictate that at certain times the negotiated muster bands will be temporarily exceeded. Where this occurs the local prison Administration will negotiate with the relevant prison's Vigilance Officer/s to implement the additional resourcing and processes required. The original prison design capacity also relates to the provision of other facilities within the prison, e.g. number of anticipated visits, recreation areas, prisoner movement controls within the prison, etc and is calculated at the time the prison was built. However, continuous improvement in the management of prisoners including enhanced procedures; optimisation of resources; improved constructive day activities and programs for prisoners; improved prisoner movement controls and segregation capacity within the prison environment; and agreements negotiated with the Union to increase staffing numbers commensurate with prescribed muster bands, has allowed for a safe increase in numbers over the original prison design capacity.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.