Casuarina Prison

2025-02-22T01:21:26Z

2405:6E00:2651:CA58:143E:931A:E37F:3F3A: /* Notable prisoners */

{{Short description|Maximum-security prison in Perth, Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox prison
| prison_name = Casuarina Prison
| image =
| caption =
| location = [[Casuarina, Western Australia|Casuarina]], [[Western Australia]], <small>{{convert|30|km}} south of [[Perth]]</small>
| coordinates = {{coord|32|14|23|S|115|52|41|E|type:landmark_region:AU|display=inline,title}}
| status = Operational
| classification = Minimum to maximum (Male)
| capacity = 1200
| population =
| populationdate =
| opened = {{Start date and age|1991|06|}}
| closed =
| managed_by = [http://www.justice.wa.gov.au/ Department of Justice, Western Australia]
| director =
| governor =
| warden =
| prisoners =
}}

'''Casuarina Prison''' is the main maximum-security prison for [[Western Australia]], located in the [[Perth]], Western Australia suburb of [[Casuarina, Western Australia|Casuarina]]. The prison accommodates minimum-, medium- and maximum-security prisoners. It was opened in 1991 to replace [[Fremantle Prison]], which was 130 years old.<ref name="news.com-nat-geo" /> The prison was the scene of a riot on Christmas Day 1998.<ref name="news.com-nat-geo" /> The prison featured in the documentary ''Australia's Hardest Prison: Lockdown Oz'' on the [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] channel in 2008, following the lives of prisoners and officers.<ref name="news.com-nat-geo">{{cite news |title=National Geographic films Casuarina Prison| url=http://www.news.com.au/news/tv-show-films-casuarina-prison/story-fna7dq6e-1111116798837 |accessdate=13 June 2016 |work=NewsComAu |publisher=News Limited |date=2 July 2008}}</ref>

In 2013 the prison was the setting for the film ''[[Son of a Gun (film)|Son of a Gun]]''.{{citation needed|date= June 2016}}

The prison has been subject of multiple legal actions due to alleged "inhumane conditions".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-03-31 |title='Cruel and inhumane': Prisoners locked up in special unit of WA jail say it amounts to illegal confinement |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-01/casuarina-prison-inmates-take-wa-legal-action-over-confinement/100040538 |access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref> In 2022, seventeen teenagers were relocated to the maximum security prison prompting a class action.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-20 |title=Seventeen Banksia Hill juvenile inmates moved to Casuarina Prison |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-20/seventeen-banksia-hill-inmates-moved-to-casuarina/101256138 |access-date=2022-11-14}}</ref> The Department of Justice has defended its actions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramsey |first=Michael |date=2022-10-06 |title=WA youth prison could face more lockdowns despite class action plans |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-youth-prison-could-face-more-lockdowns-despite-class-action-plans-20221006-p5bnv1.html |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=WAtoday |language=en}}</ref> while victim advocates have raised concerns around the law firm representing the youth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Open letter re Banksia Hill teenagers |url=https://classlessactions.com/2022/08/09/open-letter-re-banksia-hill-teenagers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005112012/https://classlessactions.com/2022/08/09/open-letter-re-banksia-hill-teenagers/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 October 2022 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Levitt Robinson Classless Actions |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Australian Human Rights Commission]] has raised concerns about the issue of teenagers being held at the prison,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government action needed to protect children in detention |url=https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/government-action-needed-protect-children-detention |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=humanrights.gov.au |date=21 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> prompting calls for further action.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Disadvantaged Youth |url=https://classlessactions.com/2022/07/27/disadvantaged-youth/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814083932/https://classlessactions.com/2022/07/27/disadvantaged-youth/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=14 August 2022 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Levitt Robinson Classless Actions |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable prisoners==
* [[Jack Roche]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Freed Roche: 'I'll stay clean' |first=Andrea |last=Hayward |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/freed-roche-ill-stay-clean/story-e6frg13u-1111113554906?from=public_rss |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=Western Australia |date=17 May 2007 |accessdate=18 January 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606152959/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/freed-roche-ill-stay-clean/story-e6frg13u-1111113554906?from=public_rss |archivedate=6 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Dante Arthurs]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Accused child killer to undergo more psych testing |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/12/01/1802224.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=1 December 2006 |accessdate=18 January 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215042323/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/12/01/1802224.htm |archivedate=15 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[David Birnie]] (1951–2005)<ref>{{cite news|title=Coroner told Birnie depressed in days before suicide |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/18/2121862.htm |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=18 December 2007 |accessdate=18 January 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621103350/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/18/2121862.htm |archivedate=21 June 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Robert Bropho]] (1930–2011)<ref>{{cite news |title = Delay in officially informing Bropho's family of his death |url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-25/bropho-family-not-told/3600354/?site=southcoast |work =ABC News |location=Australia |date = 25 October 2011 }}</ref>
* Terence Kelly, [[Disappearance of Cleo Smith|Kidnapper of Cleo Smith]]<ref>{{cite news |title = Cleo Smith found: Accused kidnapper Terence Kelly arrives at Casuarina Prison |url = https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/cleo-smith/cleo-smith-found-accused-kidnapper-terence-kelly-arrives-at-casuarina-prison-c-4450987|work =perthnow.com.au |location=[[Perth]] |date = 5 November 2021 |accessdate= 6 November 2021}}</ref>
* [[Claremont serial killings|Bradley Edwards]] Claremont Serial Killer
* Rhys Bellinge

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au/prisons/prison-locations/casuarina.aspx Casuarina Prison – Department of Corrective Services]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051218205547/http://www.custodialinspector.wa.gov.au/pdfs/insp_reports/rp01-CasuarinaPrisSpecialUnit.pdf Report of an Unannounced Inspection of the IOU and the SHU at Casuarina Prison (2000)] (pdf)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051218204821/http://www.custodialinspector.wa.gov.au/pdfs/insp_reports/rp08-CasuarinaPrisSpecialUnitFollowUp.pdf Report of a Follow-up Inspection of the Special Management Units at Casuarina Prison (2001)] (pdf)

{{WesternAustralianPrisons}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1991 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Prisons in Western Australia]]
[[Category:Maximum security prisons in Australia]]

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Casuarina Prison