165: Inspection of Work Camps

Work camps are minimum-security facilities that provide the most reintegration benefit for adult male prisoners compared to other custodial facilities. They replicate the structure of daily living that reflects, where possible, the broader community. Prisoners have more agency over their own lives and decisions than those in mainstream prisons. They are expected to make decisions …

Work camps have not been fully utilised Work camps in Western Australia have remained underutilised, with some consistently full and others persistently below capacity due to barriers such as remoteness, limited staffing, and complex approval processes. Aboriginal prisoners are notably under-represented, partly due to systemic challenges in attaining minimum-security status, and many prisoners lack awareness …

Recommendation 1 Improve access to work camps for First Nations prisoners. Recommendation 2 Remove duplicate approvals for work camp placements. Recommendation 3 Include a Life Skills Officer position in the staffing model for all the work camps. Recommendation 4 Support all works camps to develop, manage and sustain a Community Liaison Group. Recommendation 5 Explore …