Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre has had its fair share of negative press over recent years with dire staff shortages, rolling lock downs, violent incidents, detainees being isolated in their cells for extended periods of time and self harm incidents. The most recent tragic events in late 2023 saw 16 year old aboriginal boy, Cleveland Dodd unresponsive in his cell after cries for help went unattended.
It was another terrible indictment on WA’s juvenile detention system, making this the first juvenile death in custody in WA since modern records began. Mr Dodd was found in his cell in Unit 18, by now a unit with a notorious reputation, located in a separate wing attached to the adult Casuarina Prison. Unit 18 houses juvenile detainees with the most complex problems including substance abuse issues, behavioural and learning difficulties.
The WA government has announced that it will build a new facility close to Banksia Hill that will provide therapeutic care and intervention to the most challenging juvenile detainees and will look to close Unit 18.
The issues that persist in the juvenile detention system are seemingly a vicious cycle. The abuses experienced in juvenile detention facilities in WA and around Australia were recognised in the Royal commission in 2017. Like Rangeview Remand Centre before it, Banksia Hill is sadly, no exception.
If you have been a victim of sexual abuse at a juvenile detention facility at Banksia Hill or any other juvenile detention facility in Australia and would like support with your claim, we can help. At Chamberlains Law firm we give our client’s the opportunity to explore what their claim might be worth. Our aim is to achieve an acknowledgement of the wrongs committed against our survivors and financial settlement through civil abuse action in the courts that meets our client’s individual circumstances. There is no perfect settlement and there are never guarantees in litigation but we will fight hard to ensure we get the best outcome we can for you.
This article was prepared with the assistance of Keziah Holdsworth*
If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Abuse Compensation Director Jon May on 02 6188 3600