15 Report No. Vulnerable and Predatory Prisoners in Western Australia: A Review of Policy and Practice Cover photo: Entrance to K Block at Acacia Prison. A higher percentage of prisoners are held in protection at Acacia Prison than at any other prison in the State. Vulnerable and Predatory Prisoners in Western Australia: A Review of Policy and Practice Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services Level 27, 197 St George’s Terrace, Perth WA 6000 www.custodialinspector.wa.gov.au May 2003 ISSN 1445-3134 This document uses environmentally friendly paper, comprising 50% recycled & 50% totally chlorine free plantation pulp. Contents THE INSPECTOR’S OVERVIEW PASSIVE MANAGEMENT IS NO MANAGEMENT AT ALL .....................................................................................v CHAPTER 1 PROTECTING VULNERABLE PRISONERS...........................................................................................................1 The Need for a Thematic Review ................................................................................................................1 Terms of Reference........................................................................................................................................3 Research Methodology ..................................................................................................................................4 Figures Relating to the use of Protection in Western Australia ..................................................................5 Protocols and Procedures in Western Australia for Regulating Prisoners and Dealing with Vulnerable and Protected Prisoners .................................................................................................5 The Social Culture of the Prison Environment .......................................................................................7 The Place of Protection Prisoners within Prison Culture........................................................................9 The Concept of a Healthy Prison and its Applicability to Protection Prisoners ....................................10 Returning to Mainstream ......................................................................................................................11 Protection Status – International Concerns ...........................................................................................12 Bullying Strategy: Protocols and Policies of the Department of Justice.................................................13 Overview of Bullying............................................................................................................................14 Bullying in United Kingdom Prisons.....................................................................................................15 Induction of Prisoners in the UK System..............................................................................................17 Recent Literature ..................................................................................................................................18 Western Australian Issues ......................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 2 PROTECTION PRISONERS AT HAKEA PRISON...........................................................................................22 The Background....................................................................................................................................22 Description of the Prison and the Protection Unit................................................................................22 The Yards...............................................................................................................................................23 The Placement of Prisoners in the Unit................................................................................................23 Identifying Remand or Convicted Prisoners in the Protection Unit .....................................................24 Staffing and Working Environment in Protection..................................................................................25 Senior Officers Working in Protection ..................................................................................................27 The Monitoring and Documentation of Protection Prisoners – Operational Instruction No. 4 ............28 Detailed Documentation of the Operational Practice in Relation to Protection Prisoners in Unit 4 ....29 VULNERABLE AND PREDITORY PRISONERS:A REVIEW OF POLICY AND PRACTICE i Evaluating Protection Arrangements at Hakea from the Point of View of the Healthy Prison Test .......32 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................40 CHAPTER 3 PROTECTION PRISONERS AT CASUARINA PRISON..................................................................................41 The Background....................................................................................................................................41 Description of the Prison and the Protection Unit................................................................................41 The Intensive Observation Unit ............................................................................................................42 The Placement of Prisoners in the Protection Unit...............................................................................43 Staffing the Protection Unit ..................................................................................................................44 Senior Officers Working in Protection ..................................................................................................45 The Monitoring and Documentation of Protection Prisoners – Operational Instruction No. 4 ............46 Documentation of Operational Practice of Protection Prisoners in Unit 6 ...........................................47 The Intensive Observation Unit ............................................................................................................48 Safety within the Prison ........................................................................................................................48 Anti-bullying and Safety in Unit 6........................................................................................................49 Do Staff and Prisoners feel Respected?.................................................................................................50 Purposeful Activity ................................................................................................................................51 Preparation for Release .........................................................................................................................53 Healthy Staff .........................................................................................................................................53 Conclusions ...........................................................................................................................................55 CHAPTER 4 PROTECTION PRISONERS AT ACACIA PRISON..........................................................................................57 The Background....................................................................................................................................57 Description of the Prison and the Protection Unit................................................................................57 Placing of Prisoners in the Unit ............................................................................................................59 Staffing the Protection Units .................................................................................................................61 Supervisors of K Block .........................................................................................................................63 The Monitoring and Documentation of Protection Prisoners – Operational Instruction No. 4 ............64 The Healthy Prison Test ........................................................................................................................64 Conclusions ...........................................................................................................................................71 CHAPTER 5 PROTECTION PRISONERS AT BANDYUP WOMEN’S PRISON.......................................................................73 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................73 ii VULNERABLE AND PREDITORY PRISONERS:A REVIEW OF POLICY AND PRACTICE Description of the Prison and the Protection Unit................................................................................73 Placing of Prisoners in the Multi-Management Unit at the time of the Review...................................74 Staffing and Working Environment in the Multi-Management Unit .....................................................75 The Monitoring and Documentation of Protection Prisoners – Operational Instruction No. 4 ............76 Conditions in Protection .......................................................................................................................77 Safety and Respect within the Prison....................................................................................................77