Dark issues of offenders at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre

Many of Townsville’s worst young criminals have endured years of unthinkable trauma. The state’s police minister says while it doesn’t excuse their crimes, it needs to be considered when coming up with real solutions.

A photo of a previous car burning in Townsville, where incidents of car theft have increased by 200 per cent since 2015.

Many of Townsville’s worst youth criminals have endured rape and sexual abuse, forced prostitution, and early exposure to drugs and alcohol.

This is according to several politicians including Police Minister Mark Ryan as well as former Cleveland Youth Detention Centre employees.

Police Minister Mark Ryan acknowledged areas of trauma including unstable family lives, sex abuse and alcohol foetal syndrome, but reiterated these “complex issues” were not justifiable reasons for the violent offenders involved in car thefts and burnings, armed break-ins, and even recently, a ramming of a police vehicle.

“There is an element of complexity in their lives, an element of trauma in their lives, but again I come back to that point, it might explain their offending but it doesn’t excuse (it),” Mr Ryan said.

He emphasised the importance of intervention programs, but that many of the teenagers who were the worst offenders in Townsville streets had missed those programs from years previous.

Mundingburra State MP Les Walker had worked in Cleveland Youth Detention Centre for almost 20 years, and he said many of the youth offenders locked in detention shared their crime stories.

Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Northern Police Region, Chris Hodgman, Police Minister Mark Ryan, and Acting Assistant Commissioner for Youth Crime, Andrew Massingham. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It was their only common interest.

“They’ve been victims of rape, they’ve been sold for sex, been injected with drugs, exposed to drugs at say five, participated in drugs since seven or eight, been drinking since seven,” Mr Walker said.

“Their parents are gambling or in jail so there’s no parents in the house, in some cases there are two or three people to a bed, there’s no food, and there’s no love and support.”

Mundingburra MP Les Walker talks about local crime in Townsville, while Resources Minister Scott Stewart looks on. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Mr Walker believed there was some hope for the worst youth criminals but that they could only change if they wanted to.

And they would only want to change with healthy relationships, which took a long time because they did not trust anyone, he said.

But Mr Walker often recognised former youth criminals who had transformed their lives, and taken on well paid jobs, even within the state government.

“They don’t have the record hanging over their head, they transition quite well, and they pick up their game,” he said.

The Cleveland Bay Youth Detention Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“They’ve got kids, they’ve got a house, there’s some great stories out there of people that have turned their lives around and I see them every day.”

A former Cleveland Youth Detention Centre employee said many of his charges in detention had taken advantage of their situation, and that they wanted to remain inside.

“Home life was pretty shitty with assaults, rapes and child neglect, and CYCD was a better option,” he said.

“At the time over 70 per cent of offenders reoffended to get back, it was kind of a game.

“It is not until you read their files or they disclose to you what the have been through do you realise what a horrible life they have had.

Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer with Intensive Case Worker Aida Cook and Indigenous Support Services Officer Keisha Tremlett at the Cleveland Bay Youth Detention Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The youngest I heard was nine as there was no place for him.

“He was a victim of alcohol foetal syndrome and he had brain damage from being hit by a car.”

Detainees were treated well and when the employee worked there, they were given rewards including food, allowances, and televisions and game consoles for their rooms.

“Some of them were very violent towards staff which resulted in a lot of assaults on workers.

“Remember, we had rapists, murderers, pedophiles, foetal alcohol detainees, autistic detainees, car thieves and as such you had to be constantly alert.”

Last week Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer announced a $1m boost to increase staff that worked with vulnerable youth.

Ms Farmer said Townsville case workers would double to eight staff.

Across the state about 20 per cent of youth offenders did half of the crimes.

“They’re the hard nuts to crack. Those young people have been exposed to domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, disengagement from education … substance abuse problems,” she said.

Originally published as Dark issues of offenders at Cleveland Youth Detention Centre