'RESPECT THE RISK' - Keep Our Prisons Safe
‘Respect the Risk’ is a campaign to recognise and protect the rights of WA Prison Officers by advocating for a better prison system.
The Deaths In Custody Watch Committee (WA) Inc support the WA Prison Officers Union in their campaign for better conditions within WA Prisons for their members which ultimately will mean better conditions and treatment for WA Prisoners.
The DICWC has been a vocal opponent of our over crowded prison system for some time and vehemently opposes any further privatisation of WA Jails or detention centres, especially juvenile detention centres.
WA’s prisons are at breaking point.
With a 25 per cent increase in the states prison population in just 18 months, prisons are over crowded beyond capacity.
Prison Officers are responsible for more and more prisoners every day, and crowded conditions mean Prison Officers face increasingly violent and explosive situations at work.
In fact, more than 70 prison officers in West Australia were assaulted at work last year.
But prisons face multiple risks.
WA’s prisons also face the threat being sold off to foreign, private companies to be run for profit.
Instead of respecting the risks faced by Prison Officers, the West Australian Government is now resisting claims for a fair wages agreement for Prison Officers.
West Australia’s prisons are facing risks like never before.
Prisons are overcrowded and bursting at the seams.
Government is considering allowing big, foreign companies to run WA’s prisons for profit and resisting a fair wages agreement for Prison Officers.
Overcrowding – Prisons at Breaking Point
While the State Government talks big on Law and Order, less attention is given to the capacity of WA’s prisons to deal with those who reach the end of the line.
Eleven out of 14 prisons are already holding far more inmates than they are designed to.
Since the beginning of 2009, the prison population has increased 25 per cent – from 3,923 to 4,886 inmates. That’s a similar level of growth to the previous eight years!
Estimates based on the current projected growth of WA’s prison population show that prisons will be short 1,200 beds by 2015, even with any new proposed prison facilities.
Prison Officers know from experience that there is a direct correlation between prison overcrowding and the number of assaults that take place in prisons.
And while the prison population has increased, the number of prison officers has not kept pace – despite efforts to recruit. Prison Officers are managing more prisoners than ever before.
Respect the Risk is asking the West Australian Government to address the overcrowding crisis by committing adequate resources.
The Risk of Privatisation
The Government is considering allowing more private, foreign companies to run WA’s prisons for profit.
The experience around the globe is that when a prison is privatised jobs are cut, in order to maximise profits for the company and its shareholders.
No one wants to see a repeat of what happened in 2008 when a private company; Global Solution Limited (now G4S), was held responsible for the death of a 46-year-old Aboriginal Elder Mr Ward, who died of heat stress inside a prison van.
WA’s prisons are the responsibility of the State.
Evidence overseas suggests that private companies running prisons will lead to fewer staff, more dangerous prisons, less focus on rehabilitation – and poorer justice outcomes for the entire community.
Watch video and find out more about the WAPOU 'RESPECT THE RISK' - Keep Our Prisons Safe Campaign HERE.
We encourage members, friends and supporters of the DICWC to check it out and show support in addressing issues of overcrowding in our State Prisons and NO to any further privatisation of WA Prisons or detention centres.
- END OVERCROWDING
- STOP PRIVATISATION
- BUILD COMMUNITIES NOT PRISONS
