The name of new prison complex at Canningvale to be changed to Hakea prison

13/9/99
The name of the new combined prison complex at Canning Vale, including the on-site CW Campbell Remand Centre, the Canning Vale prison and the new special unit, will be changed to Hakea Prison.
Justice Minister Peter Foss said the name change reflected the big change in the prison's future role and the fact that two previously separate prisons would be subsumed in the complex.
"Hakea Prison will become the flagship public sector prison in the State," Mr Foss said.
"After current construction work is completed by September 2000, the site will contain the prison and its two facilities - the remand centre and a new receival and assessment centre.
"Hakea Prison will provide an integrated range of services equal to the best in the world," the Minister said.
"It was decided to make the new name consistent with other major centres in the WA custodial system.
"Hakea Prison is named after a unique WA species of native flora, similar to the Casuarina, Banksia Hill and Acacia facilities."
Overall, the site will accommodate almost 700 prisoners compared with about 460 before construction work was undertaken.
The new receival and assessment centre will enable the Ministry of Justice to introduce a computerised prisoner management system.
"All newly sentenced prisoners from the Perth metropolitan area, which accounted for two thirds of the State's prison population, will be processed through the receival and assessment centre," Mr Foss said.
"Eighty five percent of all prisoners will be assessed within 28 days by staff at the centre.
"To ensure consistent procedures in processing prisoners, Hakea Prison will also act as the receival and assessment centre on behalf of any private prisons in WA.
"The latest assessment techniques will be used and prisoners will have their own individual case management plan prepared for them.
"This means that each prisoner will be provided with a tailored rehabilitation program designed to improve their education, personal development and employment prospects from the start of their sentence until they are released.
"It will be a big step forward from previous, mainly manual, systems."
Media contact: Steve Manchee (08) 9213 6400