A specific standard for the management of female prisoners is being introduced in Western Australia for the first time, with particular attention to be paid to Indigenous inmates.

Key points: New guidelines for management of female prison inmates

New guidelines for management of female prison inmates Aboriginal women to be treated in a culturally sensitive manner

Aboriginal women to be treated in a culturally sensitive manner Detainees could wear own clothes to aid rehabilitation

Detainees could wear own clothes to aid rehabilitation Department of Corrective Services set to look at use of force

Policies and procedures adhered to by the WA Department of Corrective Services (DCS) for the management of prisoners have generally not been gender specific in the past.

Corrective Services commissioner James McMahon said the new plan was about getting better results for female prisoners and the community.

He denied assessing women inmates differently represented a soft approach.

"This is not about being soft on women. This is actually being sophisticated about how we secure at one end, but most importantly, rehabilitate for a safer West Australian community," Mr McMahon said.

"And if we get that right, it is value for money for the taxpayer [and] we give some women hopefully a better chance at a life out of crime."

Aboriginal women comprise 46 per cent of WA's adult female prison population, while making up only three per cent of the overall population in the state.

The new measures seek to recognise the challenges faced by Aboriginal women and ensure they are treated in a "culturally sensitive manner".

There will be greater recognition of the fact that many female detainees have come from a background of trauma and abuse.

There is also likely to be less reliance on the use of force by corrective services employees, with a new focus on de-escalation.

It is hoped that will lead to more "meaningful interaction" with women.

Female inmates could be allowed to wear own clothes

Mr McMahon said a range of changes could be considered to assist rehabilitation.

He said a key characteristic of female prisoners was a lack of self-esteem, and one way of addressing that could be allowing detainees to wear their own clothes.

"There might be issues of personal clothing that we might review, it might be better for treatment for some women to use their personal clothing," he said.

Mr McMahon said a background of trauma or abuse could often explain impulsive behaviour.

"A lot of women are victims. In my early days, when I went out to Bandyup, I could feel it," he said.

He said a review of how force was used to handle situations could involve retraining some officers who guard women prisoners, so they are better be able to "talk down".

"If you're a victim of crime and you've been abused, which a lot of women in the estate are ... then you've got to use a treatment that supports rehabilitation," he said.

Mr McMahon said the changes would be introduced gradually.