157: Inspection of Albany Regional Prison

Albany Regional Prison is a receival prison for men and women from local courts or police in the Great Southern region. Men may continue to reside there on remand or after sentence, but women are transferred to a prison in Perth. It is also Western Australia’s third maximum-security prison and functions as an alternative placement …

Infrastructure and staffing were under pressure Rising prisoner numbers meant the ageing infrastructure was under increasing pressure. At the same time, regular and persistent custodial staffing shortages affected daily operations. However, the arrival of a new Acting Superintendent had brought a new approach that was welcomed by staff. Safety and security were compromised by staff …

The main two challenges facing Albany Regional Prison were rising prisoner numbers and staff shortages. These two factors combined placed pressure on almost all aspects of the prison’s operations, including impacts on core services like health, recreation, employment, and education. Restrictions were also evident in the daily regime and interactions between custodial staff and prisoners, …

Recommendation 1 Develop a strategic infrastructure plan for Unit 1 and other ageing infrastructure at Albany Regional Prison. Recommendation 2 Re-establish a maintenance team that provides accredited training to prisoners. Recommendation 3 Develop a strategic workforce plan for Albany, including regular local recruitment and local training of prison officers. Recommendation 4 Ensure prompt appointment of …