Karnet Prison Farm plays a vital role in the prison system, providing work for minimum-security prisoners.
It produces food – particularly milk, meat and eggs – for the State’s prisons.
Karnet focuses on the integration of prisoners back into the community.
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In brief |
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Opened: |
March 1963 |
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Gender of population: |
Male |
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Security level: |
Minimum |
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Design capacity: |
174 |
| Current capacity (as at 30 October 2009): | 226 |
| Work camp capacity: | 32 |
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Location: |
16 km from Serpentine, 73 km south of Perth |
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Visiting: |
Weekends and public holidays: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm (excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day). Other times on application. A free prison bus service is available on Sunday. It departs from Armadale Train Station at 1.00 pm. |
History
Karnet was initially opened in 1963 to treat convicted alcoholics. Alcoholics Anonymous and a psychiatric service were employed to educate prisoners. The prison was also opened to accommodate the excess number of prisoners who had been held at Fremantle.
Karnet’s initial intake was about 60 prisoners. In 1971, it held 90 prisoners who worked the 375 ha property to provide meat, eggs, and vegetables for the other prisons in the State.
In 1999, a 48-bed self care unit was built to allow prisoners to cook and clean for themselves. A visitors’ centre was also built during this period.
Twelve beds were added to the facility in 2005 and in 2006 a perimeter fence and entry buildings were being constructed as part of a redevelopment project.
Day-to-day operations
Prison activity revolves around agricultural production, to supply other Department of Corrective Services custodial facilities. The prison breeds cattle and sheep and is responsible for buying and breeding beef cattle for the Department’s three prison farms, at Karnet, Wooroloo and Pardelup.
The prison also has an abattoir, a dairy, a poultry farm, market gardens and an orchard that supplies citrus and stone fruit. Prisoners who work in these operations can complete rural traineeships that are recognised in the wider community.
The prison runs treatment programs to enable prisoners to address their offending behaviour before leaving prison.
Many prisoners also take part in the Section 94 community work party, working in the local area on projects for not-for-profit groups or organisations.
Contact details
Karnet Prison Farm
Kingsbury Drive
Via SERPENTINE WA 6125
Telephone: (08) 9526 3200
Facsimile: (08) 9525 2665
Postal address:
Karnet Prison Farm
PO Box 22
SERPENTINE WA 6125
Last Updated: 20-Nov-2009
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