Broome Prison Condemned as 'Unfit for Purpose' in Scathing Inspection Report
A shocking investigation has exposed the dire state of Broome Regional Prison, where female inmates have been forced to share their living unit with male prisoners due to severe overcrowding. This practice blatantly violates international human rights standards and poses significant safety risks.
Systemic Failures and Unacceptable Conditions
The Office of Inspector of Custodial Services delivered a damning assessment, declaring the Kimberley facility "unfit for purpose". The report detailed how maximum security inmates are being held in conditions that fail to meet even basic standards, with the prison operating well beyond its intended capacity.
Inspector Eamon Ryan highlighted the facility's multiple problems, stating: "The prison operates in overcrowded, degraded and unhygienic conditions, which fall well short of community expectations and international standards." He emphasized that the cumulative impact on both prisoner and staff wellbeing has become unsustainable.
Critical Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Failures
The investigation found the prison's infrastructure is dangerously degrading, putting everyone at risk. Some remand prisoners have been forced to sleep on mattresses placed directly on the floor, while the facility simultaneously battles cockroach infestations.
Rehabilitation efforts were described as "ineffective", with limited reintegration supports available to inmates. The report noted that most prisoners will likely be released "no better than when they were first sent there", undermining the correctional system's fundamental purpose.
Longstanding Issues and Delayed Solutions
Disturbingly, inspectors have observed the same critical problems since the prison's first inspection in 2001, with conditions only deteriorating over time. The report urgently calls for funding to replace the facility entirely, along with immediate investment to improve conditions while it remains operational.
While the State Government allocated $1.4 million in 2019 to plan a new prison near Broome, progress has been minimal. According to parliamentary records, 29 land parcels have been assessed, with three meeting the department's selection criteria, but planning issues continue to delay advancement.
Government Response and Future Planning
The Department of Justice maintains its commitment to improving conditions at the troubled facility. Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce stated: "Our vision is to create correctional environments and deliver improved services and conditions that help reduce reoffending and build safer communities in the Kimberley region."
The Cook Government acknowledges dealing with a sharp statewide increase in prisoner numbers requires a long-term approach. In the 2025-26 State Budget, $4.7 million was allocated toward long-term custodial infrastructure planning, though immediate concerns at Broome remain pressing.
The report's most alarming finding concerns the mixing of male and female prisoners in separate cells within the same unit—a practice identified in previous inspections that continues despite breaching United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. This arrangement creates serious risks to female inmates' safety and wellbeing, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform at the aging facility.
