The death of a 16-year-old First Nations teenager in a notorious youth unit of an adult prison in Western Australia was preventable and predictable, and the result of “serious longstanding deficiencies in the system, a Coroner has found.
WA Coroner Phil Urquhart handed down his findings from the coronial inquest into the death of Cleveland Dodd in mid-October 2023, at the Unit 18 youth detention centre within the adult Casaurina Prison.
He found that the treatment of Cleveland before his death was “not only entirely inappropriate, but inhumane”, and that Unit 18 should be closed “as a matter of urgency”.
The Coroner also called for an inquiry to be held into how Unit 18 came to be established as the state’s second youth justice facility.
The Coroner found that for 74 of Cleveland’s last 87 days in custody he had been locked in his cell for longer than 22 hours each day, amounting to solitary confinement under international law.
“No child in detention deserves to be treated in the way Cleveland and the other young people in Unit 18 were treated at the time he decided to end
his life,” the Coroner said.
For Cleveland and other children held at Unit 18, prolonged periods of solitary confinement, isolation, intense boredom, meals eaten alone and a lack of access to mental health services, education and running water had become the norm, the Coroner found.
“The youth justice system failed Cleveland,” Urquhart said.
“It should never be forgotten that detainees are not only children but are some of the most vulnerable children in our state; many of whom have intellectual disabilities that can be directly linked to not only their offending in the community, but also to their behaviour when they are placed in detention.”
The Coroner made 15 adverse findings against the WA Department of Justice and a number of recommendations. He said that “tinkering at the edges” isn’t going to solve the problems, and that “wholesale reform and a complete reset is necessary”.
Cleveland’s mother told the inquest the impact his death has had on their family.
“My son’s death will not be in vain,” she said.
“In his memory, I must remain stalwart to change, to a kinder world and solid in the pursuit of justice even in the strongest winds.
“I hope that this process, which is unimaginably difficult for me and my family and indeed all those who loved Cleveland, will be the catalyst for real and lasting change. Enough is enough.
“My son didn’t deserve to be treated that way. My son didn’t deserve to die. I want justice for Cleveland.”
For Cleveland and other children held at Unit 18, prolonged periods of solitary confinement, isolation, intense boredom, meals eaten alone and a lack of access to mental health services, education and running water had become the norm, the Coroner found.
“The youth justice system failed Cleveland,” Urquhart said.
“It should never be forgotten that detainees are not only children but are some of the most vulnerable children in our state; many of whom have intellectual disabilities that can be directly linked to not only their offending in the community, but also to their behaviour when they are placed in detention.”
The Coroner made 15 adverse findings against the WA Department of Justice and a number of recommendations. He said that “tinkering at the edges” isn’t going to solve the problems, and that “wholesale reform and a complete reset is necessary”.
Cleveland’s mother told the inquest the impact his death has had on their family.
“My son’s death will not be in vain,” she said.
“In his memory, I must remain stalwart to change, to a kinder world and solid in the pursuit of justice even in the strongest winds.
“I hope that this process, which is unimaginably difficult for me and my family and indeed all those who loved Cleveland, will be the catalyst for real and lasting change. Enough is enough.
“My son didn’t deserve to be treated that way. My son didn’t deserve to die. I want justice for Cleveland.”
