Western Australia’s prison system is facing serious pressure, with the Inspector of Custodial Services issuing a Show Cause Notice over conditions at Hakea Prison, Casuarina Prison and Melaleuca Women’s Prison.
A report released by Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan found deteriorating conditions across the three facilities, raising concerns about the safety, security and wellbeing of prisoners and staff.
The notice was issued under the Inspector of Custodial Services Act 2003, which allows the Inspector to take action when there are reasonable grounds to suspect a serious risk to people in custody or that prisoners may be experiencing cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Mr Ryan said the problems were no longer limited to a single prison.
“This is no longer a problem confined to a single facility — it reflects a systemic failure across multiple prisons,” he said.
The report found that issues first identified at Hakea Prison in 2024 and 2025 had spread more broadly across the custodial system.
According to the report, sustained growth in prisoner numbers and workforce shortages have contributed to overcrowding, routine lockdowns and reduced access to services.
The Inspector also pointed to high rates of use of force, assaults and self-harm within the prison system.
Mr Ryan said current conditions posed serious risks to both prisoners and staff.
“Current conditions pose a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of both prisoners and staff, and in some cases may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” he said.
The report draws comparisons with warning signs identified before the 2018 riot at Greenough Regional Prison and states that small-scale responses will not be enough to address the issues.
In response, the Department of Justice said it acknowledged the concerns raised in the report and was already undertaking reforms to address capacity, staffing and operational challenges.
The department said two dedicated response teams had been established to strengthen oversight of custodial population management and improve operational decision-making across the prison system.
Additional custodial officers are also being recruited as part of ongoing workforce initiatives.
Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said the response teams had improved visibility of risks and supported more timely operational decisions.
“These measures are supporting more stable operations and reducing reliance on restrictive routines across parts of the estate, with Hakea particularly benefiting,” he said.
The Department of Justice also pointed to infrastructure projects, including major works planned at Casuarina Prison, as part of efforts to increase capacity.
Department of Justice Director General Kylie Maj said broader factors contributing to demand on the prison system required a coordinated response across government agencies.
“Our focus is to stabilise the system, support staff, maintain safe and secure custodial operations, and deliver the longer-term reforms needed to respond to sustained demand pressures, while keeping community safety as our top priority,” she said.
The department has provided a formal response to the Show Cause Notice and outlined its planned actions to the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services.
