Western Australia's Inspector of Custodial Services has released an annual report detailing "worsening conditions across the system".

On Wednesday, Acting Inspector Jane Higgins released the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services' Annual Report 2025-26, outlining a year of "sustained oversight activity and continuing pressure" across Western Australia's prison system, in which Indigenous people are drastically overrepresented.

The Office tabled 11 inspection and review reports, and made 89 recommendations, of which 83 per cent were supported by the WA Department of Justice.

OICS staff also completed 72 liaison visits, while Independent Visitors submitted 99 reports raising more than 1,100 matters.

The Annual Report records that the Office issued a Show Cause Notice in March 2026 concerning conditions at Hakea Prison, Casuarina Prison and Melaleuca Women's Prison.

The review report highlighted "worsening conditions across the system, most acutely seen in these three facilities".

Staff shortages 'continue to impact daily operations and create unsafe environments'

The Show Cause Notice provided one recommendation, a commitment to a funded, whole-of-system reform plan with clear actions, timeframes and accountability.

Ms Higgins said staff shortages continue to impact daily operations and create unsafe environments.

"The daily average adult prison population reached 8,560 during 2025-26, an increase of six per cent on the previous year," she said.

"At 30 June 2026, nine prison facilities were operating above capacity and 111 people were sleeping on mattresses on cell floors.

"Population growth, overcrowding and persistent staffing shortages continued to affect prison operations, including time out of cell and access to health care, rehabilitation, education, employment and family contact."

'We are not seeing the political will to address mass incarceration'

Kurin Minang human rights expert and law academic Dr Hannah McGlade told National Indigenous Times the annual report reinforced the need for "a robust, independent Aboriginal justice advisory body, as was recommended by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody more than 30 years ago".

"Unfortunately we are not seeing the political will to address mass incarceration and this is endangering Aboriginal people as well as representing a complete failure of public policy, because we know incarceration does not make communities safer and does not address the causes of offending.

"We also know there is racial profiling and racism in the system, and there are many people who should not be in there in the first place. We will soon be undertaking research into wrongful convictions with a small research team."

Dr McGlade noted that mass incarceration comes at a significant cost to the WA public, undermining the state's ability to fund vital public infrastructure such as for health and education.

"We have an Aboriginal justice committee to give 'cultural advice' to the government. This is window dressing and has proven to be ineffective inn terms of addressing the serious justice issues we are facing."

Acting Inspector Higgins said the Annual Report also identified "examples of positive practice across the custodial estate" including "improved access to health care and strong rehabilitation program delivery at Acacia Prison, effective peer support arrangements, practical reintegration opportunities at prison farms and work camps, and the therapeutic, trauma-informed environment at Wandoo Rehabilitation Prison, where 98 per cent of surveyed residents reported feeling safe".

The Office also introduced a revised inspection methodology during 2025-26. Average report drafting time was reduced from 29 weeks to 14 weeks, and average publication time following onsite inspections was reduced from 50 weeks to 30 weeks.

National Indigenous Times has contacted the WA Department of Justice for comment.