The Department is undertaking coordinated operational, workforce and infrastructure measures to manage prisoner population, capacity and staffing challenges identified in the report.
Corrective Services has established two dedicated response teams to strengthen central oversight of custodial population management, supporting improved system flow, risk management and responsive operational decision-making.
Additional Custodial Officers are being deployed through a sustained recruitment program to support safe and secure prison operations, alongside targeted measures to improve workforce stability.
Significant custodial infrastructure expansions and upgrades are underway or planned, including major works at Casuarina, as part of a staged approach to increasing capacity and supporting long-term system resilience.
“The response teams have created a proactive central coordination point for managing the custodial population, improving visibility of risk and enabling more timely operational decisions,” Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said.
“These measures are supporting more stable operations and reducing reliance on restrictive routines across parts of the estate, with Hakea particularly benefiting,” Commissioner Royce said.
“Through strengthened governance, targeted interventions, and sustained investment in our workforce and infrastructure, we are making Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca safer and more resilient,” he said.
The Department has provided a comprehensive response to the show cause notice, outlining these reforms and actions to the Inspector of Custodial Services.
While the Department is progressing substantial reforms within the custodial system, broader drivers of demand require sustained cross-government action.
These reforms are supported by the Justice Planning and Reform Committee (JPRC), which brings together senior leaders from Justice, WA Police, the Departments of Communities, the Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and Finance, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to coordinate a whole-of-system response.
“The JPRC provides a strong platform for coordinated, cross-government action on the complex factors contributing to contact with the criminal justice system,” Department of Justice Director General Kylie Maj said.
“Our focus is to stabilise the system, support staff, maintain safe and secure custodial operations, and deliver the longer-term reforms needed to respond to sustained demand pressures, while keeping community safety as our top priority,” Ms Maj said.
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