150: Inspection of Casuarina Prison

Casuarina opened in 1991, replacing the colonial era Fremantle Prison as the state’s main maximum-security facility for male prisoners. The prison runs several specialist units to which prisoners from around the state can be sent as necessary: Special Handling Unit – for prisoners who present a heightened security risk, threat to staff or other prisoners, …

A complex prisoner group and a COVID-19 outbreak presented challenges Casuarina continued to house many of the state’s most difficult-to-manage prisoners. It was increasingly challenging to manage risks and identify safe placements for all prisoners. The proportion of Aboriginal men in the prison had grown to 43%, and 53% of the total population were on …

During our 2022 inspection, expansion works were ongoing at Casuarina and the prison was increasing in size and complexity. When building is complete, Casuarina will have a capacity of around 1,800 making it the biggest prison in Australia. This comes with significant risks and challenges. Casuarina was already managing increasingly complex conflicts and risks between …

Recommendation 1 Develop a clear vision and strategic direction for Casuarina within the wider prison system. Recommendation 2 Identify and address the reasons for high levels of personal leave and workers’ compensation leave at Casuarina. Recommendation 3 Implement a more comprehensive orientation process. Recommendation 4 Improve legal resources and increase access for prisoners, particularly those …