The Profile of Women in Prison report provides valuable information regarding the attitudes and perceptions of women in Western Australian prison facilities. The report is based on information gleaned through a Prisoner Characteristics and Needs Survey conducted between November and December 2005 in all WA prisons with female prisoners.
The 2005 report shows a number of trends that demonstrate the positive change occurring in WA prisons.
- More women believed they were unlikely to re-offend when released back into the community. Around 90% of women in the 2005 report believed they would not re-offend, compared to 78% in 2003. This trend was particularly strong among Aboriginal women - 89% of whom did not believe they would re-offend, compared to 64% in 2003.
- Women were also more satisfied with the programs they were undertaking in prison. The number of women satisfied or very satisfied with the range of programs had more than doubled since 2001. In 2005, 76% of women were satisfied or very satisfied with programs, increasing from 34% in 2001 and 45% in 2003.
- Higher satisfaction levels were also reported regarding the recreational activities made available to women in prison. The number of women who reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with recreation activities increased from 28% in 2001, to 46% in 2003, and increased again to 54% in 2005. The level of dissatisfaction decreased during this same period (50% in 2001, 33% in 2003 and 22% in 2005).
