New ‘Super Max’ unit at Casuarina for disruptive prisoners

  • Disruptive prisoners to be housed in new Casuarina unit to improve behaviours
  • New high-security unit expected by end of 2022
  • Casuarina Prison on track to be WA’s biggest and most complex prison by 2023 
  • Prisoners who seek to disrupt the good order of a prison will be placed in a purpose-built, high-security unit at Casuarina Prison with no external movements or privileges.

    The Super Max unit is expected to have 40 cells divided into four wings where prisoners will have to prove that they are no longer a threat to others, including prison staff, to move out of the unit.

    Some extremely violent or disruptive prisoners may also be held in cells that have a small enclosed exercise yard, which they will only be able to access for an hour each day. The rest of the time they will be confined to their cells.

    Meals will also be served in the cells, and prisoners will be handcuffed moving in and out of their cells and around the unit.

    Rehabilitative, educational and other programs will be delivered in the high-security unit and anyone entering the unit, including staff, will be searched.

    The new unit is a progression of the current Disruptive Prisoner Protocol that can be applied to prisoners who have assaulted staff or other prisoners, are actively undermining the good order of a prison or are highly disruptive.

    Under the protocol, prisoners are transported with little notice to any prison around the State and privileges revoked to help prisoners change their behaviour and comply with prison rules and procedures.

    The new unit is expected to be complete by the end of 2022 and is part of the 344-bed expansion of Casuarina Prison’s custodial capacity, which will also include support for priority one mental health cases, and aged care and special needs prisoners.

    The 344-bed expansion, along with the recent addition of 512 new beds including a new alcohol and other drug treatment prison for men, will make Casuarina the State’s biggest and most complex prison by the end of 2023.

    As stated by Corrective Services Minister Francis Logan:

    “The Disruptive Prisoner Protocol has delivered good results since it was introduced to help certain prisoners understand that they do not run a prison and that the rules and practices apply to them as well.

    “This new punishment unit should send a very clear and simple message to those prisoners and any others who think to undermine the good order of a prison: if you play up, you get shipped out.

    “You will not enjoy your time in the Super Max, and your movements will be severely restricted until you change your behaviour.

    “These measures are to ensure strict discipline across our prisons so that the actions of a certain few do not adversely affect the majority who follow the rules.

    “This also helps with staff safety and rehabilitative efforts. A prison’s good order keeps everyone safe.

    “When this new unit is complete by the end of 2022, as is currently proposed, it will be a game-changer for how our prison estate is run.

    “I hope that the cells are rarely used, but if they are, I hope that those who pass through them spread the word throughout the prison estate that it is not a place you want to go.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.