Broome prison to remain open for now

Western Australia's oldest operating prison will remain open until the corrective services department can figure out what to do with it.

Broome Regional Prison was due to close in December, with inmates going instead to the West Kimberley Regional Prison in Derby, which opened in November 2012.

A report tabled in parliament this week found serious issues would arise from the closure of the prison, including the possibility of daily detainee transfers from Derby to the main Kimberley court house in Broome, 222 kilometres away.

The report, which followed an inspection of both prisons in July 2014, found that the Derby prison was impressive, but questioned the poorly planned closure of the Broome facility.

Inspector Neil Morgan said in the report that detainee transfers would incur additional costs because they were not covered by contractor Serco and no custodial vehicles used in the Kimberley would be suitable.

"The risks associated with long-distance remote-area travel, highlighted by the tragic case of Mr Ward, should not be forgotten," the report said.

"The challenges faced by locating the main prison 200km from the main courts should have been addressed at least three years ago."

Known only as Mr Ward for cultural reasons, the 46-year-old died in the back of a prison van in 2008 while being transferred about 250km from Laverton to Kalgoorlie over a drink-driving offence.

Adult Justice Services Deputy Commissioner Shayne Maines said the Broome prison would remain open while the corrective services department reviewed the role of custodial facilities across the Kimberley, looking at integrating existing infrastructure with the needs of police and the courts.

Mr Maines said most of the report's 23 recommendations had already been addressed.