Questions raised about Alice kids in Don Dale during riot

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2599 Don Dale riot OKBy ERWIN CHLANDA
 
It is unclear whether procedures had been followed in the transfer of 10 young people from Alice Springs who were at the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre when a riot took place on November 6.
 
Territory Families, in reply to enquiries from the Alice Springs News Online, said yesterday: “As the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre has a capacity of 18 young people, detainees may need to be relocated to the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre to accommodate increased numbers.
 
“This is constantly being reviewed and assessed.”
 
But Territory Families, which is in charge of detention of young people, has told the News previously that any transfer to Don Dale “is done in consultation with the young person, their family and legal support team as well as youth outreach re-engagement officers and child protection practitioners. When a transfer does occur ongoing efforts are made to facilitate family access.”
 
We asked Territory Families late yesterday: “Had the above steps been taken in the case of each of the 10 children transferred to Don Dale?
 
“We also understand that any transfer needs to be ‘in the best interest of the child’. Is that so, and and how was that ‘best interest’ ascertained?”
 
We have not received a reply at the time of publication this afternoon, but Territory Families has promised one, without nominating a time. We will publish the response when it comes to hand.
 
The department says of the 10 Alice Springs youths, six were on remand and four had been sentenced.
 
That means, six of the 10 have not been convicted of an offence.
 
The statement says: “All detainees were returned to the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre [on Saturday] night after temporarily being accommodated at the Police Watch House in Darwin.
 
“We will be undertaking a thorough and detailed analysis of the incident so that we can better understand what caused it, learn from what has happened and continue to improve our polices, processes and service delivery.”
 
PHOTO: ABC TV News Darwin.
 
 
UPDATE 2:30pm November 13
 
Territory Families provided the following statement:–
 
The Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre has a capacity of 18 young people. If an increase in numbers occurs detainees may need to be relocated to the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin, which is a larger facility with higher capacity.
 
The Don Dale Youth Detention Centre offers a range of programs and is best placed to accommodate detainees with longer sentences due to its size and resources available.
 
Before a young person from the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre is transferred, Territory Families staff work in consultation with the young person, their family, their legal support team as well as youth outreach re-engagement officers and child protection practitioners.
 
A fair and transparent consultation process must take place before the transfer can be approved by the Executive Director of Youth Justice Detention Operations.
 
During the consultation, case coordinators complete a checklist relating to feedback from the young person’s family members, Territory Families case worker, legal representatives and the receiving Youth Detention Centre.
 
Detainees can also request to be transferred to another youth detention centre within the Northern Territory Region at any time, by completing an internal request.
 
 
 

3 COMMENTS

  1. Any transfer to Don Dale “is done in consultation with the young person, their family and legal support team as well as youth outreach re-engagement officers and child protection practitioners. When a transfer does occur ongoing efforts are made to facilitate family access”.
    That’s a lot of people paid by the taxpayer. Add to that criminal damage done, transport costs, family support, medical and so on and we have a taxpayer funded industry. Sadly, if it were performance based closure would be assured.

  2. For those of us working within the youth services sector alongside some of these youth and their families we know this process is not adhered to prior to transfer to Don Dale.
    We know the bare minimum of consent from any one of these parties is at times not gained.
    We also know that at times consent is sought, the youth and their support services decline consent and the transfer proceeds regardless.
    In one instance the youth reaching out stating “I don’t want to go up there, please don’t let them put me on the plane to Don Dale” moments before supports are informed he is soon to board a flight.

  3. Interesting that the child, youth agencies parents are asked about transfer.
    Would this not be for security, safety reasons?
    If the child is in custody have not the support agencies already failed.
    The incarceration of the child would not be the first time they had come to the attention of authorities.
    If they do not want to go to Don Dale, do not break the law.

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