Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison (EGRP) was opened on the southern outskirts of Kalgoorlie Boulder in 1980. It services the Goldfields from Wiluna in the north to Esperance on the south coast, and the 13 remote Aboriginal communities east to the state boarder – the Ngaanyatjarra and Spinifex communities. The majority of prisoners at EGRP are Aboriginal.
With an on-site operational capacity of 96, EGRP caters for 40 per cent of the prisoners from the region. Consequently, some 180 Goldfields/Ngaanyatjarra prisoners are in custody elsewhere, suffering dislocation from family, community and country. The prison is rated minimum security, but can accommodate higher security prisoners for short periods. Up to 20 female prisoners are held in a secure unit within the prison. EGRP operates a work camp with an operational capacity of 24 at Warburton Community, 900 km away in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.
Despite its antiquated custodial design, EGRP does continue to provide education, training and employment services to minimum security prisoners. A small Section 95 work party permits engagement in civic projects outside the prison for suitable prisoners. Provision of rehabilitative programs specifically designed appropriate to the life circumstances of Goldfields/Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal prisoners has proved difficult.
Since its inception, the Office has called for the urgent replacement of the existing facility with a full-service prison capable of accommodating all Goldfields/Ngaanyatjarra prisoners. Funds were allocated to that end in 2009, and construction of a 350 bed prison adjoining the current site is under way. The new EGRP is designed around appropriate service delivery, and will open late in 2015.