Youth Justice Centres: Inspection findings reveal inside look at six facilities across NSW

An independent audit of the state’s youth justice centres has called for an overhaul of confinement rules over concerns young people are being ‘unnecessarily’ locked in rooms.

An inside look at NSW youth justice centres has been revealed.

An independent audit of the state’s youth justice centres has called for an overhaul of confinement rules over concerns young people are being “unnecessarily” locked in rooms for “minor misbehaviour” such as poor language.

Inspector of Custodial Services Fiona Rafter has released findings of a seven-month long inspection of six NSW youth justice centres used to hold young people in custody after being charged with a criminal offence or waiting to appear in court.

The audit of the centres found there had been a steady increase in the number of young people housed in the facilities since 2021 which staff attributed to young people being refused bail by police along with increased demand from the courts for comprehensive bail reports.

The findings of the audit were released as the NSW Government faces increased scrutiny over increasing youth crime rates – particularly in parts of regional NSW.

Last week, NSW Parliament passed tougher bail laws making it harder for 14 to 18-year-olds repeatedly charged with certain serious break-and-enter or motor vehicle theft offences to be released on bail, as well as for those posting social media contact that advertises offending.

A photo of a confinement cell inspected in the audit.

Despite the tougher bail measures, the audit has called for changes to reduce the numbers of young people on remand being placed in youth justice centres including by improved access to the Bail and Accommodation Support Service which can help police divert young people from custody.

Ms Rafter said the number 10–13-year-old children in centres was “noticeable” and that it was “difficult seeing very young children in these environments where they are at risk of physical and psychological harm and of forming negative associations with other young offenders that may lead to future offending”

The report raised concerns over a practice of young people being held in confinement for misdemeanour offences and instances of young people “remaining locked in their rooms for considerable time after confinement has ended.” – in some cases up to 24 hours.

A photo inside the Reiby youth justice centre.

The inspection found instances of confinement being given for minor misbehaviours such as disobedience and bad language, and has referred the practices to the NSW Ombudsman for further investigation.

“It is necessary for there to be consequences for misbehaviourm, however the over punishment of young people can be counter-productive and unlawful,” Ms Rafter said in her report.

Figures released in the audit showed there were 345 assaults recorded at the centres during the latest 12 month reporting period including physical and verbal assaults and assaults with a weapon.

A photo of the Frank Baxter youth justice centre.

The audit showed young people in youth justice centres are predominantly Aboriginal, known to child protection agencies and have multiple disabilities or complex needs.

Ms Rafter acknowledged that some young people “need to be remanded in custody and are not suitable for bail” however pointed to data showing most young people spend a short period on remand before they are bailed or released from youth justice centres.

The inspection of the centres raised further over management of the facilities, including the cleanliness of holding rooms, lack of privacy in admissions areas, and a statewide shortage of youth officers – partly attributed to low retention rates and sick leave.

A photo inside the Acmena youth justice centre.

There had been instances of “racist attitudes” from staff reported at the Frank Baxter and Acmena youth justice centres which Youth Justice NSW said has resulted in disciplinary action and people suspended from the workplace.

There were also a small number of reports of “bullying and poor attitudes among small numbers of youth officers that were affecting young people.”

As part of the audit, Ms Rafter has made 51 recommendations to Youth Justice NSW aimed at improving standards and management practices at the facilities.

The recommendations include examining misbehaviour and punishment practices, improved staff training to manage young people with challenging behaviour, and protocols to ensure young people have a minimum 10 hours time out of their rooms per day.

A photo inside the Cobham youth justice centre.

She has also called for the Bail and Accommodation Support Service to operate under extended hours.

In a statement, Youth Justice NSW said after reviewing the inspector’s report almost all of the recommendations are supported or supported in principle with some already completed.

A spokeswoman recognised there were operational challenges at the time of the audit, partly due to Covid-19 that forced staff to be temporarily unavailable due to medical isolation.

“Youth Justice acknowledges that there are opportunities to improve services in these centres, but the report also highlighted the work undertaken by Youth Justice to drive significant improvements in the last three years,” a spokeswoman said.

“Some of these changes have contributed to significant system including a reduction in self-harm and significant reductions in restrictive practices.

“Youth Justice staff are required to manage difficult behaviour at times, and incidents of verbal or physical abuse of staff are taken seriously. There are no staff shortages in these centres currently.”

The six centres inspected in the audit included the Frank Baxter, Acmena, Cobham, Orana, Reiby and Riverina youth justice centres.