A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the opening of Acacia Prison, prisoner selection, and overcrowding in the public prison system. The Minister denies delaying the opening and confirms overcrowding.

AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 October 2000
Portfolio
Justice

QuestionView source ↗

(2) Will the Ministry of Justice select prisoners to minimise risk to the private prison by placing prisoners known to be more compliant in the prison? (3) Will the public prison system be placed at any risk as a result? (4) Is the public prison system expected to be overcrowded in relation to the designed prison capacity over the coming summer? (5) Should the crowded state prison system have the pressure relieved by taking higher risk prisoners from the state system and placing them in Acacia? (6) Is the Minister deliberately delaying the opening of Acacia Prison till after the State election? Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
14 November 2000
Response time
33 days
The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.
(3) Will the public prison system be placed at any risk as a result? (4) Is the public prison system expected to be overcrowded in relation to the designed prison capacity over the coming summer? (5) Should the crowded state prison system have the pressure relieved by taking higher risk prisoners from the state system and placing them in Acacia? (6) Is the Minister deliberately delaying the opening of Acacia Prison till after the State election? Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister Replied: The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.
(4) Is the public prison system expected to be overcrowded in relation to the designed prison capacity over the coming summer? (5) Should the crowded state prison system have the pressure relieved by taking higher risk prisoners from the state system and placing them in Acacia? (6) Is the Minister deliberately delaying the opening of Acacia Prison till after the State election? Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister Replied: The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.
(5) Should the crowded state prison system have the pressure relieved by taking higher risk prisoners from the state system and placing them in Acacia? (6) Is the Minister deliberately delaying the opening of Acacia Prison till after the State election? Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister Replied: The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.
(6) Is the Minister deliberately delaying the opening of Acacia Prison till after the State election? Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister Replied: The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.
Answered on 14 November 2000 The Minister Replied: The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply. (1) Male, medium security prisoners who are from the metropolitan area. (2) No. (3) No. (4) Yes, in relation to its designed operating capacity until Acacia Prison begins to receive prisoners. (5) See 1. (6) No. Acacia Prison will be operational once the construction work is completed and it has been tested and commissioned properly.

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