The fourth inspection of Banksia Hill was originally scheduled for March 2013 but was cancelled following the riot in January 2013 and the subsequent Directed Review into the incident conducted by this Office.
Just over three months before the riot Banksia Hill had become the state’s only juvenile detention centre following the decision to turn the other juvenile facility, Rangeview Remand Centre, into a prison for young men aged 18 to 24. Banksia Hill officially became the sole juvenile detention centre on 5 October 2012. Banksia Hill now holds both male and female detainees, sentenced and unsentenced, from all regions, ranging in age from 10 to 18 years (and beyond).
The inspection was rescheduled for approximately 18 months after the riot. This provided an opportunity to assess Banksia Hill’s recovery from the riot and the extent to which the recommendations made in the Directed Review had been addressed. In addition, it was important to examine the various aspects of the centre’s operations that had not formed a central part of the Directed Review. This included such key areas as the management of young women, health services, education, case planning, programs and psychological services.