Premier says prisons need to ‘expand’ but can’t say when, as early release of violent carjacker sparks outrage

WA’s Prisons Minister has said over-crowding shouldn’t be used by judges to justify softer sentences, but not when a decision will be made to build a new jail. A violent car-jacker who was facing up to 20 years in jail is set to be walk free in February, after District Court judge Gary Massey sentenced him to 2.5 years and granted parole — blaming in part “outrageous” and “unacceptable conditions” at Hakea Prison. Coen Richard Dorizzi dragged an 89-year-old man from his car, during a drug-fuelled crime rampage last year. Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia pointed responsibility towards judges and the courts, should a released offender hurt or kills someone. “They’re independent. (The courts) determine who gets released in the community, and their first consideration should be the safety of the community,” he said. The West Australian revealed in July that the State’s prison system was operating at 94 per cent capacity, with the 388 prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor. New figures tabled in State Parliament show prisons were operating at 99 per cent capacity, with a total 8496 inmates as of August 31 — up from less than 7000 prisoners in 2018. Inspector of Custodial Services Eamonn Ryan said a new prison was needed. “They have an all-time high record population,” Mr Ryan said. “I think it’s inevitable that they have to make a commitment to build a new prison. What, where and how that looks like —The (Justice) Department’s got some long-term plans, the just need to be approved and funded. “But I think it’s not just a case of building prisons. You’ve got to improve rehabilitation, you’ve got to address the pipeline.” Roger Cook said an prison expansion was on the cards, but was short on detail. “I can’t speak for those judges. You’ll have to ask them, but obviously we expect the judicial system to keep our community safe,” the Premier said. “We’re continuing to make sure that we expand our prison estate so that we can deal with the with the prison population.” In July, Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said a business case to expand prison capacity had been finished and was being considered. On Wednesday, he couldn’t say when a decision will be made on a potential $1 billion price tag for a new jail. “It’s being considered within the Economic Review Committee of Cabinet, that is a consideration by them, and it’s subject to Cabinet confidentiality. I’m not going to breach that,” he said. “I’m not on the committee. I guarantee you, I’ll let you know the moment I know.” Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas called prison overcrowding an “indictment” on the Cook Government, but he stopped short of committing to support a potential $1 billion price tag for a new prison. Mr Zempilas said custodial arrangements shouldn’t influence sentencing, but blamed the Government for overcrowding leading to reduced sentence. “It is an indictment on this Government that there are not sufficient custodial facilities available,” Mr Zempilas told 6PR Radio. Asked whether a new prison was needed, Mr Zempilas said his preference was “some form of expansion within existing footprints”. “It is clear if we can’t send people away for long enough or for what they deserve, and if magistrates and judges are doing things like not giving a full sentence because of the room that’s available, we know that our system is not working,” he said. “That is on the Government, they’ve had nine years now.”