UPDATE: In a shocking turn of events, the state government of Western Australia has announced it will reject several critical findings from a coroner’s inquest into the tragic death of Cleveland Dodd, the first child to die while detained in a youth detention center in WA. This announcement comes just two days after a deeply emotional meeting between Cleveland’s mother, Nadene Dodd, and Premier Roger Cook.
Nadene Dodd expressed her profound disappointment, stating that the government’s decision undermines the very changes needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. “Improvements alone are not safety,” she emphasized, highlighting the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the youth justice system. Cleveland’s death has ignited a firestorm of calls for reform, with the Australian Human Rights Commission leading the charge for the immediate closure of Unit 18, the facility where Cleveland took his life.
The coroner’s inquest, led by Coroner Philip Urquhart, revealed alarming details about the conditions in Unit 18, describing it as chaotic and unsafe. Cleveland endured severe isolation, spending over 22 hours a day locked in his cell without basic necessities, including running water. The coroner stated, “This sort of incarceration is inhumane and reminiscent of 19th-century jails.”
Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss echoed these concerns, stating, “Every day it operates within an adult prison environment is another day of unacceptable risk for vulnerable children.” She called for immediate actions to ensure the safety and rights of children in custody.
The inquest uncovered that Cleveland was denied access to mental health services and education, ultimately leading to his tragic decision to end his life. “Cleveland’s death must lead to full and lasting change—for every child who will enter Banksia Hill or any youth facility,” Nadene Dodd insisted, urging the government to take all of the coroner’s recommendations seriously.
Despite the outcry, the WA government plans to keep Unit 18 operational until a new $158 million juvenile detention center is completed near Perth in three years. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from advocates who argue that the facility is not fit for purpose. “The continued operation of Unit 18 is detrimental to the detainees who are kept there,” the coroner stated, adding that the conditions experienced by Cleveland and his peers were not just inadequate, but harmful.
The Aboriginal Legal Service has also voiced strong opposition to the current youth detention practices, stating that the time for punitive measures has long passed. “A death in custody was inevitable,” they warned, highlighting the systemic failures that led to Cleveland’s tragedy.
As the community mourns and advocates demand action, the focus now shifts to whether the WA government will reconsider its stance on the coroner’s findings. The public is calling for transparency and accountability to ensure that no other child suffers the same fate as Cleveland.
“Without scrutiny, children continue to be harmed in the dark,” Nadene Dodd stated passionately. “We must not fail another child.” The urgency for reform in WA’s youth justice system has never been clearer, with Cleveland’s death serving as a tragic catalyst for change.
As the situation develops, all eyes are on the government to see how it will respond to the mounting pressure for reform and the immediate closure of Unit 18. Advocates are rallying for action, ensuring that Cleveland’s legacy will not fade into silence.
