Under the WA Correctional Facility Entrant (Restrictions on Access) Directions, published Monday, 15 November 2021, persons over 12 years requiring entry to correctional facilities (prisons, workcamps, Banksia Hill Detention Centre and the Corrective Services Academy) will need to be at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 by 1 December 2021 and fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.
These directions apply to staff, contractors, visitors and any person who enters a correctional facility in any capacity, unless a valid exemption is held.
Prisoners and detainees are exempted from the directions but have been given access to COVID-19 vaccinations while in custody.
It is an offence for a person to fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any of these directions, punishable by a fine of up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for bodies corporate.
Department of Justice Director General, Dr Adam Tomison, said the directions would mitigate potential risks posed by COVID-19 impacting custodial facilities and vulnerable cohorts.
“With more than seven thousand people currently in our care we must do everything we can to protect them from COVID-19,” Dr Tomison said.
“Families and friends of prisoners and detainees wishing to have face-to-face social visits need to take these directions seriously or risk disappointment.
“Our Corrective Services staff perform essential services for the community and these health directions will provide further protection for our facilities during this current State of Emergency.”
From 1 January 2022, anyone requiring entry to correctional facilities will need to provide evidence of their full vaccination status.
