WA prison release programs under-resourced

Support services to help prisoners reintegrate back into society after their release should play a major role in reducing recidivism but are under-resourced in WA, the Inspector of Custodial Services says.

In a report released on Tuesday, Neil Morgan said staffing levels for the state's transition services were poorly matched with demand and did not always reach higher risk prisoners.

"Access to services is unequal across the state with some facilities actively promoting the service availability," Mr Morgan said.

"Other facilities rely on prisoners requesting services, often without knowing if the prisoners are aware of its availability.

"This means those most in need of help may not know these services exist and therefore cannot access assistance."

The Department of Custodial Services responded to most of the report's recommendations by saying a new framework for individualised offender management would resolve the problems, which Mr Morgan welcomed.

"Unfortunately, for almost half our prisoners, the only seamless transition seems to be back into prison," he said.

"That is why transition services matter, why we need to deliver more comprehensive services, and why we need to resource and manage them better."

More than 40 per cent of all sentenced prisoners return to jail within two years of release.