Custody inspector says Hakea prison is ‘under strain’ due to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions

Western Australia’s prison watchdog has brought to the government’s attention the “dismal” situation inside the prison, which is in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

WARNING: This article discusses self-harm and contains the name of a deceased Indigenous person.

In his annual review of conditions in WA’s prisons, custody inspector Eamon Ryan described a “tumultuous” year in WA’s justice system, marred by suicides among young people and adults.

The annual report, covering the year to June 2024, describes “massive overcrowding”, staffing shortages, dire conditions and a lack of services.

Mr Ryan highlighted conditions at Hakea Prison, where there have been five deaths in custody this year, according to figures released in Parliament this week.

Such was his concern that in May this year he took the rare step of issuing a notice to the Ministry of Justice and the Minister.

Notification is considered a last resort, used only if the inspector is extremely concerned.

The Department is not required to take any responsive action, but the notice represents the highest level of concern that the inspector can offer.

Some of the issues raised by Mr Ryan in his notice included that Hakea prisoners were regularly denied access to fresh air and exercise, and were kept in unsanitary conditions.

He said some prisoners were forced to share a cell where they had to eat all their meals and use a shared toilet.

Mr Ryan’s report said he believed prisoners at Hakea were treated cruelly and inhumanely and responded with anger or dangerous behavior, including suicide, serious attempts at self-harm and assault.

“It’s easy to be tough on crime and say, ‘Do the crime, do the time,’ but once you send someone to prison, you have to try as hard as you can to rehabilitate them,” he said.

On June 30, 2024, Washington state prisons housed a record 7,792 people, representing a 15 percent increase in the total adult population compared to the same period last year.

The inspector said the increase was largely due to more unconvicted men and women being taken into custody in Western Australia.

This meant that prisons were exceeding their capacity, with many prisons already having a third prisoner in a double bunk cell.

Between June 2023 and June 2024, the number of unconvicted adult males increased by 26.7%.

“Deteriorating conditions”

“This has put the two main detention facilities, Jaquea and Casuarina prisons, under enormous pressure,” Mr Ryan said in his report.

“From May to June 2024, Hakea experienced 45 consecutive days of more than 100 per cent occupancy, with men regularly having to sleep on mattresses on the floor of overcrowded cells.

“This has placed greater strain on the facility, leading to an increase in lockdowns and deteriorating conditions for the men in custody.”

Staffing shortages and lockdowns have been correlated with reports of increased rates of suicide, self-harm, assault and bad behaviour.

Mr Ryan said the year had been marred by two suicides in juvenile detention, including the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd in October 2023.

“The circumstances surrounding his death are currently being investigated by the coronial inquest,” he said.

“But for more than 10 years, reports from this office have highlighted important issues and issues surrounding how the state cares for and manages young people in custody in Western Australia.

Mr. Ryan said his office has seen some signs of improvement in the juvenile situation recently, especially since the start of 2024.

“However, the fragility of these improvements must be recognized, and continued resources and support from government are needed to achieve meaningful juvenile justice reform.”

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