The latest report on Western Australia's Casuarina Prison reveals a system in crisis, advocates say.

Key points:

• The latest Inspector of Custodial Services report found Casuarina Prison is overcrowded.
• Overcrowding, ageing infrastructure, and workforce shortages are reducing access to key services, including health and mental health care, recreation, family contact, and rehabilitation programs.
• The inspection also found delays and limited access to education and employment were also constraining rehabilitation outcomes.

WA's Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services tabled its latest inspection report on Casuarina Prison on Tuesday, identifying ongoing and increasing pressures at the state's largest correctional facility.

The inspection, conducted in October 2025, found issues identified in previous inspections had "persisted and intensified, with population growth, infrastructure limitations, and staffing shortfalls placing sustained pressure on daily operations", the Office said.

Since 2022, the prison population has increased by around 600 people. Casuarina, in which Indigenous people are significantly over-represented, is regularly operating above capacity, with measures such as triple bunking and floor mattresses in use.

'The warnings have been there for years'

National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project director Megan Krakouer told National Indigenous Times the report confirms "Western Australia's prison system is in crisis".

"Casuarina Prison is overcrowded, understaffed, and operating beyond capacity, yet the warnings have been there for years," she said.

"We have seen deaths in custody, increasing lockdowns, worsening conditions, and growing pressure on both prisoners and staff. The question is: where is the political will from the State Government to address this crisis?"

The Inspector found approximately two-thirds of prisoners in Casuarina are held on remand, many for extended periods, despite the prison being intended for sentenced people.

Overcrowding, ageing infrastructure, and workforce shortages were also reducing access to key services, including health and mental health care, recreation, family contact, and rehabilitation programs.

The inspection also found delays and limited access to education and employment were also constraining rehabilitation outcomes.

'How many more families need to lose loved ones before meaningful action is taken?'

Ms Krakouer noted that Aboriginal people continue to be disproportionately impacted by a failing system.

"Instead of investing in prevention, diversion, mental health services, housing, and Aboriginal-led solutions, governments continue to pour people into already overcrowded prisons," she said.

"How many more warnings are needed? How many more reports need to be tabled? How many more families need to lose loved ones before meaningful action is taken?

"This is no longer just a corrections issue; it is a human rights issue. The government must stop managing the crisis and start fixing it."

A system under 'significant strain'

WA Inspector of Custodial Services, Eamon Ryan, said the pace of population growth has "significantly outstripped capacity, placing ongoing strain on prisons across the system".

"At Casuarina, the impacts of sustained population growth are placing significant strain on infrastructure and daily operations," he said.

"The prison is stretched to capacity and struggling to cope.

"Ongoing staffing shortages are limiting the ability of prisons to safely and effectively manage increasing prisoner numbers."

The report made 23 recommendations to improve conditions, service delivery, and outcomes, reflecting broader system-wide pressures across Western Australia's custodial estate.

The WA Department of Justice said in response to the report published Tuesday that the findings "acknowledged the critical role Casuarina Prison plays as a safety net for the entire WA prison system".

"On top of managing a large general population, Casuarina delivers a range of specialist functions and houses prisoners from across the State with complex behavioural, health, protection and security needs," the Department said.

"The Department has already implemented and is advancing a range of operational, recruitment and infrastructure initiatives to help address issues OICS identified at the prison."