Cleveland Dodd’s family demands answers after teen died in custody at Perth’s Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre Unit 18

The family of an Indigenous boy who died after self-harming while held in one of Perth’s most notorious youth detention centers has demanded immediate answers.

The family says 16-year-old Cleveland Dodd “never harmed himself” before the morning of October 12, when he was held at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Center Unit 18.

“Our beloved young man has never harmed himself in all his years, so what happened to him during his days of being unlawfully held for long hours in that horrible place known as Unit 18?,” the statement said.

“Every day we want to know the truth about him in Unit 18. He should have been with his families whom he loved dearly.”

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

The teenager died while in custody at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Center (pictured), 20km from Perth’s maximum security Casuarina Prison.

Although the unit is run by Banksia Hill, it is actually housed about 20km away at the maximum security Casuarina adult prison in Perth.

It is used to house the “most challenging, complex and often dangerous young people”, according to Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia.

He has not ruled out wielding the ax at the top of the Justice Department as Roger Cook’s WA government came under intense pressure on Friday.

“I am considering every element of this situation and will determine our further action in the coming days,” Papalia said.

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

Prime Minister 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 “deepest condolences to the family.”

Cleveland’s family says he was “unlawfully confined to Unit 18 day after day,” which “drove him to commit suicide in despair.”

Extensive graffiti written on cell walls at Banksia Hill Detention Centre, from a report by the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services

Western Australia Prime Minister Roger Cook said his government is trying to close Unit 18 but is currently unable to do so due to structural damage caused by a riot in May

“We as First Nations People have suffered from one generation to the next, and we cannot stand by and watch this carnage inflicted on our children,” their statement released Friday said.

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

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

They are urging the state government to act now to prevent another loss of life on Banksia Hill.

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

It was also revealed on Friday that the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) will investigate an allegation of serious misconduct against a public official in connection with Cleveland’s death.

The family’s lawyers, Levitt Robinson Solicitors, said they were pleased to act on behalf of the family in the coronial investigation.

“So that the evidence of the foreseeability of the harm that the Western Australian courts have already recognized will be inflicted on young people detained in Unit 18, located in the Casuarina Prison, will be fully exposed,” it said company in a statement.

Riot police subdue prisoners during a riot on Banksia Hill

Prime Minister Cook said he was “deeply saddened” by Cleveland’s death but refused to apologize to the boy’s family.

“These are difficult issues involving complex, troubled youth and one of the key tragedies here is the social and economic conditions that led to their incarceration in the first place,” Cook said.

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

He added that his government is trying to close Unit 18 but is currently unable to do so due to structural damage on 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 was in “acute crisis”.