Investigation Launched After Teen’s Death in Western Australia Youth Detention Center

A 17-year-old boy who had been in custody for just two days was found unresponsive in his cell on Thursday and could not be revived, according to state authorities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals face the highest incarceration rates globally and also experience significantly higher mortality rates in custody compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

While deaths in juvenile detention centers are uncommon, this incident marks the second such death in the state within the past year. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the event as “horrible” and announced an investigation on Friday morning, acknowledging that “a failure has taken place” and emphasizing the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The unnamed teenager had arrived at the detention center on Tuesday in an intoxicated state and was placed in an intensive supervision unit due to health concerns. However, Commissioner of Corrective Services Brad Royce noted that there were no indications of mental distress. The boy spent most of Thursday afternoon outside his cell and was checked on by staff ten times in the hours leading up to his death.

This incident follows the death of 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd, who was the first recorded fatality at a youth detention center in the state ten months ago. Although investigators cleared the prison staff of serious misconduct in Dodd’s case, they identified significant failures leading up to his death.

After reviewing footage from the detention center, Royce stated that he found the staff’s response in this recent case to be “appropriate.” Premier Cook remarked that conditions in youth jails have improved since Dodd’s death, expressing increased confidence in the management of juvenile detention facilities.

Australia has faced international calls to raise the age of criminal responsibility, which is as low as 10 in some states, disproportionately impacting First Nations youth. The conditions in youth detention centers have also attracted global criticism, including from the UN, which claims they violate international laws, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“This was a preventable death. How many warnings does the WA government need regarding the dangers in their youth detention centers?” questioned Kacey Teerman from Amnesty International. In response to ongoing concerns, Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia stated on Thursday that there is “no obvious, immediate, systemic change” necessary but assured that they are addressing any required issues.