The Aboriginal Legal Service has filed a complaint with the WA Department of Justice, alleging a youth custodial officer made the noises in the cell where teenager Cleveland Dodd took his own life.
It is alleged a custodial officer was heard "making light" of Cleveland Dodd's death by making "ghost noises" in the cell where the teenager took his own life.The Department of Justice says any formal complaint will be assessed by its Professional Standards area.
An officer in the notorious Unit 18 juvenile detention facility made "ghost noises" in the cell where 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd took his own life, according to a complaint from the Aboriginal Legal Service. WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm and contains the image of an Indigenous person who has died. The complaint to the Department of Justice, seen by the ABC, raises a number of concerns about a young person's treatment in both Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18 in recent months.Despite repeated warnings and multiple opportunities to intervene, prison authorities failed to prevent Cleveland Dodd's death and wasted critical minutes, the ABC can reveal. WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm.It details how the young person told his lawyer he and another young person heard a youth custodial officer go into Cleveland's old cell and make "ghost noises, effectively making light of Master Dodd's passing".The unnamed boy's Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer wrote the officer's actions were of significant concern because they could reignite "feelings of traumatic stress". "It gives rise to serious concerns about the professionalism and ability of to carefully navigate matters of extreme trauma and sensitivity and provide trauma-informed care to the young people in their custody," the letter continued. The department told the ABC any formal complaint it received would be assessed by its Professional Standards area."Some allegations arising from, but not directly linked to, the death of Cleveland Dodd have been brought to the attention of the Corrective Services Commissioner and these matters are currently being reviewed," the spokesperson said of that complaint.Cleveland's mother, Nadene, said she was devastated to hear about the officer's alleged conduct in the lead-up to a coronial inquest beginning on April 3."What more can I, as a grieving mother, take? How evil are these so-called officers? Cleveland was just a boy," she told the ABC in a written statement. "I lose hope in people when I hear how my boy was treated. I am preparing for more blows at the coroner's inquest." Ms Dodd has been supported throughout her ordeal by veteran suicide prevention advocates Gerry Georgatos and Megan Krakouer. "These reprehensible comments do not surprise me. I have heard them many times, all sorts of brutal, psychologically injurious slagging over two decades from incumbent and former Banksia Hill children," Mr Georgatos said. "I argue again and again it is an all-out punitive culture, an entrenched toxicity. It used to be even worse." He called for external investigators to be appointed to consider complaints, as well as the strengthening of the Aboriginal Visitors Scheme, which provides support and counselling for First Nations detainees during business hours, and the Custody Notification Service. Ms Krakouer described the alleged actions of the custodial officer as "horrific, disgusting, appalling, sick heart-wrenching". Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan said he was dismayed at the complaint, but acknowledged was an allegation that needed to be addressed "through a proper process and if found to be proven, appropriate action ought to be taken".The young person, who was later moved to Banksia Hill, said a wall in his cell there had a hole where a light switch was meant to be.His lawyer wrote that it took four or five requests for the hole to be fixed.The letter also complained of "rolling lockdowns" over the Christmas period, including on Christmas Day when the boy said he was only allowed out of his cell for one hour, and was only able to make one phone call to family. He told his lawyer on some days he was not allowed to leave his cell at all, despite Supreme Court rulings young people were required to get at least one hour of exercise for every six hours they spent in their cells during what would normally be "unlock time"."It's pretty f***ed. They should be treating us like normal kids," he said in a letter to his lawyer. In response to detailed questions from the ABC, a department spokesperson said it prioritised the health and safety of young people and staff. "It is not uncommon for detainees to cause damage to their sleeping quarters. Damage identified during daily checks is reported and prioritised depending on seriousness," they said. "Where safety and security are identified as being at risk then alternative accommodation arrangements are made. "Any period of confinement in sleeping quarters during routine unlock hours must have a confinement order in place." It's understood the damage to the light switch was done before the young person was moved into the cell.While figures presented to state parliament showed the amount of time young people spent out of their cells continued to improve in recent months, ALS WA chief executive Wayne Nannup said the experience of this young person showed not everyone was benefiting."Young people have also reported there are occasions on which they are not let out of their cells at all if any of the young people in the unit ," he said. Mr Ryan said he was "encouraged" by changes, particularly at Banksia Hill, where "considerable improvements in services and supports" were occurring. "Infrastructure limitations continue to impact what can be delivered and, as I have said on many occasions, there is no quick fix solution to the use of Unit 18," he said.Nadene Dodd didn't know her son was in Unit 18 until she got a devastating call. She says he was failed by authorities 'You know there's a camera up there?': CCTV assault on handcuffed teen reveals youth justice problems There's been no clear picture about what happened to Cleveland Dodd in the notorious Unit 18 jail, until nowBelated power price relief for some, while other Australians expected to have increased billsChief scientists backs CSIRO case against 'expensive' nuclear power Two arrests after home of Melbourne woman broken into days after her body was found in regional Victoria With another term secured, Putin will continue his war in Ukraine. But he may be gearing up for another battleTropical Cyclone Megan makes landfall on Gulf of CarpentariaWith another term secured, Putin will continue his war in Ukraine. But he may be gearing up for another battleWhy corporate Australia won't touch nuclear power
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