A new report from Western Australia's prison watchdog has found 18 of the state's facilities are operating above capacity, with 111 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor, as overcrowding and repeat offending rates surge.
The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services released its 2025/26 annual report on Wednesday, showing 7,809 adult males and 888 adult females in prison, nearly half of whom are Aboriginal people. In youth detention, there were 77 boys and three girls; the percentage of Aboriginal children in that population was 69 per cent for young males.
The report noted that Unit 18, a unit in an adult prison for disruptive juveniles, had no occupants as of June 2026. The cost of housing a prisoner is about $388 a day, or $141,620 a year, while juvenile detention costs $4,533 a day.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Overcrowding in WA prisons directly affects inmate safety and rehabilitation outcomes.
- The disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginal people, especially in youth detention, raises concerns about systemic inequality.
- The high cost of juvenile detention, at over $4,500 per day per child, puts pressure on the state budget.
Background
Western Australia has faced persistent issues with prison overcrowding and high rates of Aboriginal incarceration. The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services is the state's independent prison watchdog. The annual report is the latest official snapshot of the corrections system.
Key Perspectives
Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services: The report reveals 18 facilities over capacity, 111 inmates on floor mattresses, and a prison population that is nearly half Aboriginal.
What to Watch
- Whether the state government announces new infrastructure or policy measures to reduce overcrowding.
- Future reports on whether the proportion of Aboriginal people in custody changes.
- The ongoing use, or lack thereof, of Unit 18 for disruptive juveniles.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedEighteen WA facilities are operating above capacity.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “WA’s prison watchdog has revealed 18 of the state’s facilities are operating over capacity”
- SupportedOne hundred and eleven people in custody are sleeping on mattresses on the floor.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “with 111 people in custody sleeping on mattresses on the floor.”
- SupportedThe report found the facilities were over capacity and people were sleeping on floor mattresses.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “WA’s prison watchdog has revealed 18 of the state’s facilities are operating over capacity, with 111 people in custody sleeping on mattresses on the floor.”
- SupportedOvercrowding and repeat-offender rates are surging.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “WA news LIVE: WA prison report reveals overcrowding, repeat offender rates skyrocketing.”
- SupportedNearly half of adult prisoners are Aboriginal.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “there were 7,809 adult males and 888 adult females in prison, nearly half were Aboriginal people.”
- SupportedThe Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services released its 2025/26 annual report on Wednesday.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “November 11, 2026 — 9:32am”
- SupportedThere were 7,809 adult males and 888 adult females in prison.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “showed there were 7,809 adult males and 888 adult females in prison”
- SupportedYouth detention held 77 boys and three girls, and 69 per cent of young males were Aboriginal.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In youth detention, there were 77 boys and three girls, with the percentage of Aboriginal children even higher than the adult populations, at 69 per cent for young males.”
- SupportedUnit 18 had no occupants as of June 2026.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The controversial Unit 18 - a unit in an adult prison for disruptive juveniles - as of June 2026, had no occupants.”
- SupportedHousing a prisoner costs about $388 a day, or $141,620 a year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “It costs around $388 a day, or $141,620 a year to house a prisoner.”
- SupportedJuvenile detention costs $4,533 a day.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In juvenile detention it skyrockets to $4,533 a day.”