The Department of Justice, Corrective Services has set up more than 100 e-visit kiosks across the State’s custodial estate to help prisoners stay in touch with loved ones.
The rollout is continuing across the State towards an eventual total of about 170 kiosks at prisons operated by the Department.
Over the past two months, there have been more than 4400 e-visits conducted across 16 prisons and the youth detention centre.
The privately-operated Acacia Prison has also facilitated e-visits for inmates.
In the absence of face-to-face visits, the services have enabled prisoners to see and talk to family, friends and even pets online.
This comes on top of free telephone calls and increased mail allowances for prisoners since social visits were suspended on March 23 to help keep the coronavirus out of prisons.
"These measures and the rollout of e-visits have helped prisoners and visitors stay in touch at a difficult time," Corrective Services Commissioner Tony Hassall said.
"E-visits are the next best thing to face-to-face contact and something loved ones can do from their own homes," he said.
"It’s important for the wellbeing of prisoners and their families to maintain social contact, and eases the transition to living in the community after their release.
"These visits also contribute to prison security by helping mitigate the loss of social visits and by encouraging good behaviour."
E-visits are governed by similar rules to social visits and are monitored by security. Breaches are dealt with and, where appropriate, sanctions applied. Prisoners do not have access to the internet at any time.
Prison officers have been undergoing training to facilitate and monitor the e-visits.
At Hakea Prison, there are 20 kiosks available at a new facility installed alongside the social visits area, with another eight expected to come online. Prisoners built the wooden structures that house the terminals.
Including other facilities, the remand prison has 36 terminals available for e-visits and expects to reach 44 by next month, the most of any WA prison.
"The prisoners here are really appreciative of actually being able to see their families and their homes as well," Hakea Deputy Superintendent Catharine Phillips said.
Creation of the e-visits centre follows last year’s opening of a $3.1 million video link facility at Hakea which has expanded video court appearances and reduced the need for prisoner transport.
The e-visits rollout has also allowed overseas-based relatives of prisoners to experience virtual visits.
Corrective Services plans to continue offering e-visits after social visits resume as an alternative for prison visitors.
"For many, this will remain a convenient way to spend time with prisoners, particularly for those who live remotely or have difficulties in being able to travel to the prison at visiting times," Commissioner Hassall said.
"It may also afford prisoners the chance to see family members who are in hospital and even witness funerals they’re unable to attend," he said.
