If you, or a loved one, have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in Western Australia you likely have many questions about how prisons operate in the state as well as the rights of prisoners housed in facilities.

The following answers some common questions regarding prisons in WA, including the locations of various prisons, rights and amenities in prison and how to file a complaint about your treatment.

What are the prisons in Western Australia?

Western Australia has 17 adult prisons scattered through the State, consisting of 16 government owned prisons and 1 private prison (Acacia Prison).

The name and location of various prisons include:

• Bandyup Womens Prison in West Swan.
• Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women in Bentley.
• Casuarina Prison in Casuarina.
• Hakea Prison in Canning Vale.
• Karnet Prison Farm in Serpentine.
• Malaleuca Womens Prison in Canning Vale.
• Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison in Murdoch.
• Wooroloo Prison Farm in Wooroloo.
• Broome Regional Prison in Broome.
• Greenough Regional Prison in Narngulu.
• Roebourne Regional Prison in Roebourne.
• West Kimberely Regional Prison in Derby.
• Albany Regional Prison in Albany.
• Bunbury Regional Prison in Bunbury.
• Eastern Goldfield Regional Prison in Boulder.
• Pardelup Prison Farm in Mr Barker.
• Acacia Prison in Wooroloo.

Once sentenced, an adult prisoner will go to Hakea Prison first to determine their security rating to determine where they will serve the rest of their sentence.

Once their security risk is determined they will be moved to a permanent prison. All young prisoners aged 10 -17 are  housed in the Baskia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre.

Rights and Amenities in Prison in WA

Under Rule 10 of the Prison Rules administered by the Minister of Corrective Services in WA, prisoners are entitled to the following rights and amenities:

• The right to be housed in a ventilated and well-lit cell (or otherwise), with clean bedding and access to a toilet.
• The right to be given clothing and footwear.
• If a foreign national, the right to be offered the contact details of the relevant consulate office and the opportunity and means to make contact.
• Weather permitting, the right to 3 hours each day of open air.
• The right to continual access to clean drinking water and nutritional food adequate for health and well-being.
• The right to carry out work and to be entitled to a gratuity for work undertaken.
• The right to be provided with physical and mental health care that meets essential physical and psychological needs.
• The right to receive information regarding your legal matters as well as any anticipated court dates, as well as any legal documents about any matter currently before the courts.
• The right to access library services to meet your recreational, educational, legal and other information needs.
• The right to receive and send mail.
• The right to daily access to showers and personal hygiene items including soap and toothpaste.
• The right to practice your religion including access to spaces to meet religious and spiritual needs if practicable.
• The right to daily socialisation with prisoners, prison officers and other staff.
• The right to make calls to your lawyer,  an Ombudman’s office as well as one welfare call per day to approved social contacts.
• The right to 1 contact social visit per demand when on remand and 1 contact social visit per week if a sentenced prisoner.
• The right to paper and a pen/pencil in order to write letters, this right may be revoked if necessary in an emergency and in order to keep the good order and security of the prison.

Along with the above broad rights, prisoners will also have the ability to contact the external world whilst in prison.

Prisoners are able to send a ‘reasonable number’ of standard letters free of charge, with some restrictions which may vary between prisons.

Prisoners can have up to 10 social contacts on their telephone list, and can make outgoing social calls to those on the list. Along with in-person visit entitlements, most prisons now also allow ‘e-visits’ to be arranged via video link.

The Importance of Legal Representation in Western Australia

Navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system in Western Australia can be daunting, especially for those who are already serving a term of imprisonment. Access to quality legal representation is invaluable at every stage of the process, including during incarceration.

A Perth criminal defense lawyer can provide essential legal advice and support to ensure that a prisoner’s rights are upheld while they serve their sentence.

Whether it’s addressing issues related to parole, appealing a conviction, or ensuring that the conditions of imprisonment comply with legal standards, having a skilled lawyer can make a significant difference.

This legal support is vital in protecting the rights of prisoners and ensuring that justice is served, even behind bars.

Making a complaint

If you believe your rights are not being respected in prison, you can raise the matter with a senior officer in your unit or with the Superintendent.

Formal complaints can be made to the Department of Justice, Corrective Services, via the Administrations of Complaints Compliments and Suggestions (ACCESS) service. You can make a free call to ACCESS on 1300 306 922 from the prisoner telephone system.

Finally, complaints can also be made to the Ombudsman WA who will independently review your treatment in prison.