‘We want answers’: family of Indigenous boy who died in custody at Unit 18 release statement

The 16-year-old Indigenous boy died in hospital one week after he self-harmed behind bars at a notorious juvenile detention unit housed within an adult prison.

Warning for First Nations readers: this article contains the images and name of a person who has died. They have been published with permission of the family.

The family of an Indigenous boy, who died after self-harming while being detained in one of Perth’s most notorious youth detention facilities, has released a statement demanding immediate answers.

The family says Cleveland Dodd, 16, had “never, ever self-harmed” before the morning of October 12, while being held at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre Unit 18.

“Our beloved young one had never self-harmed in all his years, so what happened to him in his days unlawfully detained long hours in that horrible place known as Unit 18?,” the statement said.

“We want to know the truth about his every day in Unit 18. He should have been with his families which he loved dearly.”

Cleveland Dodd, 16, died in hospital after suffering self-inflicted injuries while being housed at Casuarina Prison's Unit 18 on October 12.

While the unit is run by Banksia Hill, it’s housed about 20km away in Perth’s adult maximum security Casuarina Prison.

It’s used to house the “most challenging, complex and often dangerous juveniles,” according to Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia.

He has not ruled out wielding the axe at the very top of the Department of Justice as the Roger Cook government came under intense pressure on Friday.

“I’m considering every element of this situation, and I’ll be determining our further action in coming days,” Mr Papalia said.

He said he had offered to meet Cleveland’s family and said he was “doing everything possible to improve” Unit 18.

Premier Roger Cook, who was at an event with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday, said he was “deeply saddened” by Cleveland’s death and offered his “wholehearted condolences to the family”.

Extensive graffiti written over cell walls at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, from an Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services’ report.

Mr Albanese on Saturday told ABC’s Radio National his government was committed to “justice reinvestment.”

“Stopping people from being in a position whereby they’re put into detention, having higher retention rates at school, having less crime, and making a difference,” Mr Albanese said.

“Those are the sort of programs that I think should be examined, wherever possible, to look at how to lower the numbers.

“We need to make sure that we address those questions ... we’re talking about intergenerational disadvantage here.”

Cleveland’s family says he had been “unlawfully locked down, day after day, inside Unit 18,” which “drove him to take his own life in desperation”.

Extensive damage at Banksia Hill from a riot in May means Unit 18 at Casuarina can’t be shut down.

“We as a First Nations People have been suffering from one generation to another, and we cannot stand by and watch this carnage on our children,” their statement, released on Friday, said.

“The coronial inquest into his death will take far too long to bring meaningful change, policy and law reform.

“We, his family and community, will not wait patiently in the wings while legal processes run their course.”

They’re urging the state government to act now to prevent another loss of life at Banksia Hill.

“Future commitments, platitudes and unfulfilled promises only inflict more pain,” Cleveland’s family said.

On Friday, it was also revealed the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) will investigate a serious misconduct allegation levelled at a public officer in relation to Cleveland’s death.

The family’s lawyers, Levitt Robinson Solicitors, said they’re pleased to be acting on behalf of the family in the coronial inquest.

“So that evidence of the foreseeability of the harm which West Australian courts have already recognised will be caused to young people detained in Unit 18, located in Casuarina Prison, will be fully exposed,” the firm said in a statement.

Riot police subdue detainees during a riot at Banksia Hill. Picture: ABC

Premier Cook said he was “deeply saddened” by Cleveland’s death, but declined to apologise to the boy’s family.

“These are difficult issues dealing with complex, troubled young people and one of the key tragedies here is the social and economic circumstances that led to their incarceration in the first place,” Mr Cook said.

“The situation in Unit 18 is not where we want it to be … but it is a circumstance which has been handed to us.”

He added that his government is trying to close Unit 18, but can’t at the moment due to structural damage at Banksia Hill caused by a riot in May.

A report from WA’s Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services in June found Banksia Hill to be in “acute crisis.”