Latest news with #Unit18
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Coroner may call for prison unit where WA teenager Cleveland Dodd died to be closed
Everything must be done to ensure no more children die in youth detention, a coroner has told an inquest into the death of an Indigenous teenager, including closing down the controversial prison unit where he fatally self-harmed. Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security adult facility Casuarina prison in Perth, in the early hours of 12 October 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community. It led to a long-running inquest that started in April 2024, with coroner Philip Urquhart saying he might recommend for Unit 18 to be closed, as he delivered his preliminary findings on Tuesday. 'There can be no doubt the evidence from the inquest revealed that youth justice had been a crisis at the time of Cleveland's death and had been for some time,' he told the coroner's court. The coroner indicated he might recommend the justice department no longer oversee the youth justice estate. He is considering calling for a special inquiry under the Public Sector Management Act into how Unit 18 came to be established in mid-2022. 'Everything must be done to minimise the risk of another death of a child in youth detention,' Urquhart said. The coroner said evidence supported findings the justice department had failed to properly supervise Cleveland before he fatally harmed himself. He found staff failed to wear radios as per department policy, Cleveland was confined to his cell for excessive amounts of time and the teen's cell was in a condition that enabled him to self-harm. The department had accepted many failings, including staff not following policies and procedures and Cleveland's lack of access to running water in his cell, Urquhart said. He pointed to extensive evidence Cleveland was not receiving adequate mental health and therapeutic support, education, recreation and 'access to fresh air'. 'There is much evidence to suggest that these needs of Cleveland were not adequately met,' he said. Staff described the 'appalling conditions in which the young people were being detained' and the 'chaotic operating environment' at Unit 18, with some saying it was a 'war zone', Urquhart said as he recapped some of the evidence. 'They described the soul-destroying daily confinement orders which kept detainees in their cells, sometimes for 24 hours a day,' he said. 'They described the lack of support and training given to them to do their jobs and they described the chronic shortage of staff.' The coroner revisited evidence heard about the establishment of Unit 18, as he made a case for a special inquiry after the department and some other counsel made submissions it was beyond the jurisdiction of the court. He said further adverse findings against the department and individuals would be confined to actions taken or not taken in Unit 18 and matters connected to Cleveland's death. He said examples of these would be what staff did after Cleveland covered his in-cell observation camera and the damage in his unit that enabled him to harm himself. The inquest previously heard Cleveland self-harmed about 1.35am. At 1.51am, an officer opened his cell door and at 1.54am a red alert was issued as staff tried to revive the teen. Paramedics arrived at 2.06am but did not get access to Cleveland, who was found to be in cardiac arrest, for nine minutes. The boy was partially revived and taken to hospital but suffered a brain injury because of a lack of oxygen. Cleveland died, surrounded by his family, on 19 October 2023.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
'Animals treated better' than Indigenous teen: family
Zoo animals are treated better than an Indigenous teenager held in a cell for 22 hours a day in a troubled wing of an adult prison without water before he fatally self-harmed, his outraged family says. Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security Casuarina Prison facility for adults in Perth, in the early hours of October 12, 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community. A lawyer for Cleveland's mother Nadene Dodd was scathing of the care provided to the teenager by justice department staff, as he gave submissions to the Western Australian Coroners Court on Monday. "Cleveland was subjected to institutional abuse, cruel and inhumane treatment," Steven Penglis told the inquest. The teen spent more than 22 hours a day in his cell for 74 of the 86 days he was detained in Unit 18 before he self-harmed, he said. Over that period, he had four hours of recreation time, equating to about three minutes a day. His cell had no running water and in the hours before he was fatally injured he asked for water six times, Mr Penglis said as he recapped evidence heard during the inquest that started in April 2024. Cleveland's grandmother Roslyn Sullivan said animals were treated better than her son was as a Unit 18 detainee. "You get treated more better if you're in the zoo," she said outside court. "No running water, no tap to wash his hands, no tap to wash his body. "That place shouldn't have even been there." Cleveland threatened to self-harm eight times and requested medical attention. The teen's actions were the conclusion of a series of events, including being denied bail, a failed attempt to call his mother on her birthday and severe, untreated dental issues, Mr Penglis said. "Cleveland's death was preventable and predictable," he said. Nadene Dodd described her son's treatment as "horrific neglect" and inhumane. "It was both barbarous and criminal," she said outside the court. "If people are not held to lawful account, then justice will have been denied." Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Julian McMahon said the inquest revealed there was a readiness across all levels of the justice department to accept the unacceptable. "What happened at Unit 18 was horrific," he said in his submissions. There was an "epidemic of self-harm" among a cohort of mostly Aboriginal children, he said. "By self-harm, I mean attempted suicide," Mr McMahon said. There had been at least 17 self-harm threats in the 24 hours before Cleveland fatally injured himself, he said. Lawyers for senior justice department staff said their clients shouldn't be subject to adverse findings, including former director general Adam Tomison. How the facility was run wasn't his responsibility and Corrective Services staff should have followed policy, lawyer Jerome Allan said Dr Tomison previously agreed children had been subject to appalling, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in Unit 18 under his watch. The justice department apologised to Cleveland's family and said there were many issues in Unit 18 in 2023, including damaged infrastructure, excessive detainee confinement and staff shortages. On the night Cleveland self-harmed, he was not properly supervised and should have been given more water, lawyer Tim Russell said. "More should have been done," he said. But the department did not accept Unit 18 was unfit for youth detainees. The inquest previously heard Cleveland self-harmed about 1.35am and paramedics arrived at 2.06am, but did not get access to him for nine minutes. Cleveland died, surrounded by his family, on October 19, 2023. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Zoo animals are treated better than an Indigenous teenager held in a cell for 22 hours a day in a troubled wing of an adult prison without water before he fatally self-harmed, his outraged family says. Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security Casuarina Prison facility for adults in Perth, in the early hours of October 12, 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community. A lawyer for Cleveland's mother Nadene Dodd was scathing of the care provided to the teenager by justice department staff, as he gave submissions to the Western Australian Coroners Court on Monday. "Cleveland was subjected to institutional abuse, cruel and inhumane treatment," Steven Penglis told the inquest. The teen spent more than 22 hours a day in his cell for 74 of the 86 days he was detained in Unit 18 before he self-harmed, he said. Over that period, he had four hours of recreation time, equating to about three minutes a day. His cell had no running water and in the hours before he was fatally injured he asked for water six times, Mr Penglis said as he recapped evidence heard during the inquest that started in April 2024. Cleveland's grandmother Roslyn Sullivan said animals were treated better than her son was as a Unit 18 detainee. "You get treated more better if you're in the zoo," she said outside court. "No running water, no tap to wash his hands, no tap to wash his body. "That place shouldn't have even been there." Cleveland threatened to self-harm eight times and requested medical attention. The teen's actions were the conclusion of a series of events, including being denied bail, a failed attempt to call his mother on her birthday and severe, untreated dental issues, Mr Penglis said. "Cleveland's death was preventable and predictable," he said. Nadene Dodd described her son's treatment as "horrific neglect" and inhumane. "It was both barbarous and criminal," she said outside the court. "If people are not held to lawful account, then justice will have been denied." Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Julian McMahon said the inquest revealed there was a readiness across all levels of the justice department to accept the unacceptable. "What happened at Unit 18 was horrific," he said in his submissions. There was an "epidemic of self-harm" among a cohort of mostly Aboriginal children, he said. "By self-harm, I mean attempted suicide," Mr McMahon said. There had been at least 17 self-harm threats in the 24 hours before Cleveland fatally injured himself, he said. Lawyers for senior justice department staff said their clients shouldn't be subject to adverse findings, including former director general Adam Tomison. How the facility was run wasn't his responsibility and Corrective Services staff should have followed policy, lawyer Jerome Allan said Dr Tomison previously agreed children had been subject to appalling, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in Unit 18 under his watch. The justice department apologised to Cleveland's family and said there were many issues in Unit 18 in 2023, including damaged infrastructure, excessive detainee confinement and staff shortages. On the night Cleveland self-harmed, he was not properly supervised and should have been given more water, lawyer Tim Russell said. "More should have been done," he said. But the department did not accept Unit 18 was unfit for youth detainees. The inquest previously heard Cleveland self-harmed about 1.35am and paramedics arrived at 2.06am, but did not get access to him for nine minutes. Cleveland died, surrounded by his family, on October 19, 2023. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Zoo animals are treated better than an Indigenous teenager held in a cell for 22 hours a day in a troubled wing of an adult prison without water before he fatally self-harmed, his outraged family says. Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security Casuarina Prison facility for adults in Perth, in the early hours of October 12, 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community. A lawyer for Cleveland's mother Nadene Dodd was scathing of the care provided to the teenager by justice department staff, as he gave submissions to the Western Australian Coroners Court on Monday. "Cleveland was subjected to institutional abuse, cruel and inhumane treatment," Steven Penglis told the inquest. The teen spent more than 22 hours a day in his cell for 74 of the 86 days he was detained in Unit 18 before he self-harmed, he said. Over that period, he had four hours of recreation time, equating to about three minutes a day. His cell had no running water and in the hours before he was fatally injured he asked for water six times, Mr Penglis said as he recapped evidence heard during the inquest that started in April 2024. Cleveland's grandmother Roslyn Sullivan said animals were treated better than her son was as a Unit 18 detainee. "You get treated more better if you're in the zoo," she said outside court. "No running water, no tap to wash his hands, no tap to wash his body. "That place shouldn't have even been there." Cleveland threatened to self-harm eight times and requested medical attention. The teen's actions were the conclusion of a series of events, including being denied bail, a failed attempt to call his mother on her birthday and severe, untreated dental issues, Mr Penglis said. "Cleveland's death was preventable and predictable," he said. Nadene Dodd described her son's treatment as "horrific neglect" and inhumane. "It was both barbarous and criminal," she said outside the court. "If people are not held to lawful account, then justice will have been denied." Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Julian McMahon said the inquest revealed there was a readiness across all levels of the justice department to accept the unacceptable. "What happened at Unit 18 was horrific," he said in his submissions. There was an "epidemic of self-harm" among a cohort of mostly Aboriginal children, he said. "By self-harm, I mean attempted suicide," Mr McMahon said. There had been at least 17 self-harm threats in the 24 hours before Cleveland fatally injured himself, he said. Lawyers for senior justice department staff said their clients shouldn't be subject to adverse findings, including former director general Adam Tomison. How the facility was run wasn't his responsibility and Corrective Services staff should have followed policy, lawyer Jerome Allan said Dr Tomison previously agreed children had been subject to appalling, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in Unit 18 under his watch. The justice department apologised to Cleveland's family and said there were many issues in Unit 18 in 2023, including damaged infrastructure, excessive detainee confinement and staff shortages. On the night Cleveland self-harmed, he was not properly supervised and should have been given more water, lawyer Tim Russell said. "More should have been done," he said. But the department did not accept Unit 18 was unfit for youth detainees. The inquest previously heard Cleveland self-harmed about 1.35am and paramedics arrived at 2.06am, but did not get access to him for nine minutes. Cleveland died, surrounded by his family, on October 19, 2023. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Zoo animals are treated better than an Indigenous teenager held in a cell for 22 hours a day in a troubled wing of an adult prison without water before he fatally self-harmed, his outraged family says. Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in Unit 18, a youth wing of the high-security Casuarina Prison facility for adults in Perth, in the early hours of October 12, 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community. A lawyer for Cleveland's mother Nadene Dodd was scathing of the care provided to the teenager by justice department staff, as he gave submissions to the Western Australian Coroners Court on Monday. "Cleveland was subjected to institutional abuse, cruel and inhumane treatment," Steven Penglis told the inquest. The teen spent more than 22 hours a day in his cell for 74 of the 86 days he was detained in Unit 18 before he self-harmed, he said. Over that period, he had four hours of recreation time, equating to about three minutes a day. His cell had no running water and in the hours before he was fatally injured he asked for water six times, Mr Penglis said as he recapped evidence heard during the inquest that started in April 2024. Cleveland's grandmother Roslyn Sullivan said animals were treated better than her son was as a Unit 18 detainee. "You get treated more better if you're in the zoo," she said outside court. "No running water, no tap to wash his hands, no tap to wash his body. "That place shouldn't have even been there." Cleveland threatened to self-harm eight times and requested medical attention. The teen's actions were the conclusion of a series of events, including being denied bail, a failed attempt to call his mother on her birthday and severe, untreated dental issues, Mr Penglis said. "Cleveland's death was preventable and predictable," he said. Nadene Dodd described her son's treatment as "horrific neglect" and inhumane. "It was both barbarous and criminal," she said outside the court. "If people are not held to lawful account, then justice will have been denied." Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Julian McMahon said the inquest revealed there was a readiness across all levels of the justice department to accept the unacceptable. "What happened at Unit 18 was horrific," he said in his submissions. There was an "epidemic of self-harm" among a cohort of mostly Aboriginal children, he said. "By self-harm, I mean attempted suicide," Mr McMahon said. There had been at least 17 self-harm threats in the 24 hours before Cleveland fatally injured himself, he said. Lawyers for senior justice department staff said their clients shouldn't be subject to adverse findings, including former director general Adam Tomison. How the facility was run wasn't his responsibility and Corrective Services staff should have followed policy, lawyer Jerome Allan said Dr Tomison previously agreed children had been subject to appalling, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in Unit 18 under his watch. The justice department apologised to Cleveland's family and said there were many issues in Unit 18 in 2023, including damaged infrastructure, excessive detainee confinement and staff shortages. On the night Cleveland self-harmed, he was not properly supervised and should have been given more water, lawyer Tim Russell said. "More should have been done," he said. But the department did not accept Unit 18 was unfit for youth detainees. The inquest previously heard Cleveland self-harmed about 1.35am and paramedics arrived at 2.06am, but did not get access to him for nine minutes. Cleveland died, surrounded by his family, on October 19, 2023. 13YARN 13 92 76 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
WA government apologises to family of Cleveland Dodd at inquest into his death
WARNING: This story discusses incidents of self-harm and contains the name and image of an Indigenous person who has died. The WA government has formally apologised to the family of Cleveland Dodd, whose death was the state's first recorded fatality in youth detention. Cleveland was 16 when he died after self-harming inside Unit 18 — a youth detention facility hurriedly set up inside maximum-security Casuarina Prison. An inquest probing his death began more than a year ago, and today heard closing submissions from lawyers on behalf of those involved in the case. Through its lawyer, the WA Justice Department apologised for its failings "connected with Cleveland's death". They said there had been "great change" in youth detention since and its Commissioner expressed "regret and remorse" for what had happened. Grant Donaldson SC is representing Christine Ginbey, who was the deputy commissioner for women and young people at the time of Cleveland's death. He told the court "there could be no doubt there was a staffing problem at Unit 18" which contributed to young people getting minimal time out of their cells. The inquest had earlier heard that in Cleveland's final 86 days in detention, he was allowed outside in the yard for a total of only four hours and 10 minutes — an average of less than three minutes a day. But he said staffing was an "extraordinarily complex issue" and that it was difficult to get people to work in jails and detention centres as required skills were difficult to train. Mr Donaldson also said his client should not be blamed for inaccuracies in a promotional video she recorded about how Unit 18 would operate, because they had been drafted by a strategic communications professional and checked by the then-director general. Earlier, before Mr Donaldson made his arguments, Cleveland's mother Nadene said she had to walk out of court because "the recapping of the horrific neglect of my son was inhumane beyond words". "It was both barbarous and criminal," she said. "If people are not held to lawful account then justice will have been denied." Her lawyer Stephen Penglis SC had told the court Ms Dodd wanted the Justice Department to implement all recommendations made by the coroner to minimise the chance of another young person taking their life in detention. Mr Penglis said the small amount of time Cleveland spent outside of his cell amounted to "cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment". He water was not given to Cleveland on the night he died despite his repeated requests, and that his threats of self-harm were not taken seriously. Because hatches in cell doors had been welded shut, providing water required "breaching" the cell, which needed the permission of the senior officer overnight. Mr Penglis said on the night Cleveland self-harmed, the officer on duty's refusal to do so was an "unreasonable, egregious and inexcusable failure" to provide a "human right". But Edward Greaves, representing that officer, Kyle Mead-Hunter, rejected those suggestions, saying his client had been told Cleveland was given extra water with dinner and that he did not recall any staff asking him to authorise further providing further water. "To try and blame this on one person and to blame it on Mr Mead-Hunter does not pass the test, in our submission." Mr Greaves had earlier accepted an adverse finding would be made against Mr Mead-Hunter for not wearing his radio on the night, which meant the officer who found Cleveland had to walk to Mr Mead-Hunter's office to get a key to unlock him. He said Mr Mead-Hunter "was failed by the system" and that "he learnt how the unit ran at night time from the [youth custodial officers] he was supposed to be leading". The Aboriginal Legal Service's lawyer Julian McMahon told the court the situation in youth detention prior to Cleveland's death had deteriorated because all levels of the department had been ready "to accept what is clearly, what was clearly, unacceptable". "We mustn't become immune to the horror of that concept, that a boy with some disability, with serious difficulties, was actually in solitary confinement for the last few months of his life," she said. Mr McMahon said there had been warnings about the issues at Unit 18 from when it opened and many of the first detainees there were recorded as self-harming. "What that tells you … is at that at that time and in hindsight without doubt, enormous resources were required and it tells you that without that enormous effort which did not eventuate Unit 18 was destined to and indeed did fail as a project," he said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London's best nightclubs named - with ‘DIY-run warehouse' taking top spot
London's best nightclubs have been named and a 'DIY-run warehouse' has taken top spot. The city's 40 best nightclubs for 2025 to dance, drink and pass the night away were named by TimeOut earlier this week. While London's nightlife has been in a state of crisis, the city is still home to plenty of amazing spots to enjoy yourself after the clock strikes 12. There's something for everyone in the capital - from live bands to heavy techno nights. But only one venue could come out in top spot and this unsuspecting 'DIY-run warehouse' in Bermondsey might not be think first place you'd think of. However, it managed to snub famous clubs like Ministry of Sound and Fabric which are world-renowned for their intense clubbing experience. READ MORE: Counting Crows announce epic tour is coming to the UK - with a Wembley show READ MORE: Dua Lipa fans can still buy tickets from little-known website for Wembley Stadium shows View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baptist (@ While many of the DJs playing at Venue MOT, also known as Unit 18, are lesser known than at other nightclubs, the venue has a reputation for championing young artists in and around the South East London area. The venue is famous for having an intimate feel and is often used by local promoters and performers just starting out -but it is still able to attract some big names. Despite its size, it has an incredible sound system and hosts nights across the spectrum of electronic dance music. Venue MOT is located on an industrial estate in South Bermondsey. Its slightly more remote location means that it is out of the way of the hustle and bustle of London - although it can be slightly harder to get to than some of the other big nightclubs. Coming in just behind Venue MOT on the list was Canning Town's FOLD - a hub for techno, house and other dance music. In third place was The Carpet Shop, in Peckham, which is put on by the same people behind super-popular nightclub Corsica Studios. Venue MOT Unit 18 - Bermondsey FOLD - Canning Town The Carpet Shop - Peckham The Cause - Royal Docks Fabric - Farringdon The Divine - Dalston Moth Club - Hackney Central Corsica Studios - Elephant and Castle Unit 58 - Tottenham Omerara - Southwark Got a story? Please get in touch at Stay updated on the top South London stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for the latest daily news and more.
