A damning report from Western Australia's prison watchdog has declared Broome Regional Prison 'unfit for purpose', citing cockroach infestations, unhygienic conditions, and women being forced to share units with men due to overcrowding.
The 2025 inspection by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services found that men in the maximum-security section were sleeping on mattresses on the floor in degraded conditions. At the time of the inspection, women had to share their unit with men because the prison, designed for 66 inmates, held close to 100 people.
Inspector Eamon Ryan said the prison lacked programs, education, and adequate re-entry support and health services. He noted that without meaningful rehabilitation, the cycle of reoffending would continue.
The report highlighted that the prison has been flagged for upgrades since 2001, with promises from successive governments. In 2012, the government announced the prison would be closed, and in 2019, $1.4 million was allocated for a new facility, but no site has been identified or construction begun.
The Department of Justice said it supported most of the 13 recommendations, including prioritizing replacement of the prison, urgent infrastructure repairs, and increasing GP resourcing and security staffing. However, it did not support a recommendation for an on-site mental health service.
About 95% of inmates at Broome are First Nations people from the Kimberley. The department said it remains committed to improving conditions and has established an Aboriginal Services Committee to enhance cultural support.
