In 2016, units 11 and 12 of Hakea Prison were converted into a stand-alone prison for women. The prison was known as Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility and housed women on remand and those nearing the end of their sentence preparing for release. For the first few years of operations, the prison was managed by the private firm Sodexo. In April 2020, the company surrendered its contract and the government took over management of the facility. At this time, its role shifted to managing remand women only. The prison in now known as Melaleuca Women’s Prison.
This is our first inspection since the transition to a public facility.