Pilbara communities are set to benefit from a new prisoner work camp officially opened today by Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis.
The Roebourne Town Work Camp gives up to 30 minimum-security prisoners the chance to develop work and social skills to improve their job prospects and help them reintegrate into the community.
Mr Francis said the prisoners would help regional communities by engaging in meaningful work such as conservation, tourism, cultural, heritage and construction projects.
"This is a great result for both the community and for prisoner rehabilitation. Taxpayers also benefit because the average daily cost of a work camp prisoner is far less than that for an inmate in the mainstream prison system. Recidivism rates are also much lower among work camp prisoners," Mr Francis said.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the project was made possible with State Government Royalties for Regions funding of $20million to build and operate the Roebourne camp.
"The camp will contribute directly to the region's economy because many of the goods and services needed to run the facility will be purchased locally. For Pilbara residents, the work projects carried out by the inmates also shows the justice system working in a positive way," Mr Redman said.
The Roebourne Town Work Camp is located beside the Roebourne Regional Prison and replaces the remote Millstream Work Camp which closed in early 2013.
Fact File
The Work Camp program was established in WA in 1998
The new Roebourne Work Camp is one of five camps in WA. The others are at Walpole, Dowerin, Warburton and Wyndham
2013-14 figures show a recidivism rate of 25.3% for work camp prisoners compared with 36.4% for non-work camp prisoners
Daily prisoner cost at Wyndham Work camp - $197.58. Daily cost at West Kimberley Prison - $485.04
Corrective Services Minister's office - 6552 6500
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700
