Across jurisdictions, women prisoners have largely been 'invisible' and disadvantaged due to their relatively small numbers, the 'masculine' orientation and militaristic nature of prisons systems and their preoccupation with containment, discipline and security over service delivery.
The alarming increase in prison populations has created prisoner accommodation and management problems and associated systemic crises and public outcry in a number of jurisdictions, including in relation to women's prisons. These events have served to highlight the needs of women prisoners and have forced attention to long-neglected management and service delivery issues.
The level of recognition and attention to issues within women's prisons and prisons accommodating women varies, however, where reforms are being implemented, they provide noteworthy examples of best practice in women's corrections. Western Australia has been paying attention.
