A lack of strategic planning had foreseeable consequences
The Department of Justice (the Department) had yet to finalise its strategic framework to guide the functions and priorities of Greenough Regional Prison (Greenough). Local business plans that map out priorities were often overtaken by statewide challenges such as record high population levels and ageing infrastructure. These factors limited service delivery and impacted prisoner management.
Greenough was future focussed and work culture was improving
Greenough’s management was proactive and in the absence of system wide strategic planning, attempting to fill the gaps in the provision of services for prisoners. Staff culture was more positive than recent inspections although morale was impacted by population pressures, ageing infrastructure and short staffing. Overall, relationships between staff and prisoners were more positive.
Greenough faced challenges in providing a meaningful day
Greenough lacked the infrastructure and staff required to offer a constructive day for most prisoners. Industries had not kept pace with the increased population, there were not the staff to run them so too many were idle in units with little to do. Unit 6 was a minimum-security placement, but lacked infrastructure and opportunities found at similar facilities elsewhere. Food was a source of many complaints as most prisoners had no choice or control over how their food was prepared. Education was a good service and program delivery was underway for those with identified treatment needs.
Health and wellbeing supports were mixed
The primary health team had increased and offered preventative health care health services to prisoners. But dental care, mental health and psychiatry services were limited and did not meet demand. Prisoner support services including the Prison Support Officer (PSO) and Aboriginal Visitor Scheme (AVS) were well resourced although they had less prisoner contact than prisoners thought reasonable. Access to recreation and equipment varied between units. Older units and Unit 5 had little in the way of exercise equipment and no recreation workers to organise unit-based activities.
Community connections were difficult to maintain
Due to mounting population pressures across the estate, local women were transferred out of Greenough in February 2024 and out-of-Country men took their place in Unit 4. Both groups of prisoners expressed distress at being away from family, supports and Country and reported feeling ‘lost’. The disconnection and distance was exacerbated by limited access to phones. Units were full and so prisoners spent lengthy periods queuing for a 10-minute phone call. Prisoners were also saddened that their requests to attend funerals were often declined for reasons beyond the control of the prison although they appreciated the efforts of the Chaplaincy service to offer Sorry time.