West Kimberley Regional Prison (‘WKRP’) in north WA is complete, and was officially opened on 1 November 2012.
The prison, located near Derby, is the first in Australia designed specifically for Indigenous inmates, in accordance with five guiding principles which support the Kimberley Custodial Plan:
- respect for Indigenous prisoners' responsibilities under traditional law and culture;
- recognition of Indigenous prisoners' connection to country, including custodial rights and interests over land, sea and waterways;
- recognition of kinship and family responsibilities of Indigenous prisoners;
- acknowledgment of the responsibilities that Indigenous people have to address social and economic issues affecting their community; and that
- location of new custodial facilities to be close to Indigenous prisoners' land and family.