A custodial officer allegedly made 'ghost noises' in the cell where Cleveland Dodd took his own life

The allegations form part of a complaint made by WA's Aboriginal Legal Service against the state's Department of Justice.

PERTH CLEVELAND DODD RALLY

People hold placards during a rally calling for justice following the death of Indigenous teen Cleveland Dodd, who self-harmed while being detained in and adult prison, in Perth. Source: AAP / Aaron Bunch/AAP Image

Warning: this article contains the name and image of someone who has died, and discusses distressing themes, including self-harm.

The mother of a teenager who died after self-harming in a Western Australian juvenile detention facility has expressed her outrage at reports an officer made light of her son's death.

, one week after he attempted suicide in his cell in Unit 18, the notorious youth wing of Casuarina Prison.

In a complaint filed against the state's Department of Justice, the Aboriginal Legal Service alleges that a youth custodial officer made 'ghost noises' into Dodd's former cell.

His mother, Nadene, said she "couldn't believe" the reports.

"This unbelievable horrible aftermath to my beautiful boy's passing, is just more pain," she told NITV.

"Did he not matter? Do the children of Unit 18 not matter? It breaks my heart to understand the cruelty of people, especially of people in jobs supposedly to protect my boy."

'Complete and utter fail'

After his passing, Mr Dodd became the first juvenile death in custody in the state's history.

It was another sad milestone for a youth justice system that has had many allegations of poor treatment made against it in recent years.

The complaint lodged by the ALS details the experiences of a young person who has allegedly had multiple negative experiences at both Unit 18 and also Banksia Hill Detention Centre.
Megan Krakouer, director of the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project, said she was 'outraged' by the allegations.

"It says to me that the culture still isn't right, and those purporting to make things better at Banksia Hill, its a complete and utter fail," she told NITV.

"The attitudinal issues of these particular officers, allegedly, leaves a lot to be desired.

"Children are still harming themselves on a daily basis, and it's ludicrous that those comments ... come out in the way that [they have]."

Several class action lawsuits have been launched against the Banksia Hill centre.

Ms Krakouer says it is an unsafe environment for children.

"These guards, who have allegedly made these hurtful and callous comments, are not fit to be working in the confines of the Banksia Hill [centre]," she said.

"It is supposed to be about rehabilitation, help, and support; but no, it's all about retribution. That is what the state government has allowed this place to become.

"I'm just glad hurtful comments like this are now out in the public domain so people understand the culture that currently exists at Banksia Hill."

A mother's pain for her son

Ms Dodd echoed Ms Krakouer's sentiments.

"No guards should behave like this, it is disgusting," she told NITV.

"They have no business to be around anyone who is vulnerable, let alone children."

A coronial inquest into Mr Dodd's death has been fast-tracked and will be held next month.

While relieved that the process has not been drawn out, Ms Dodd is nervously awaiting what the court process may reveal about her son's last days.

"I am doing my best to stay strong for the worse to come stories, the blows I have to take of how badly my son was treated, neglected, humiliated in Unit 18," she told NITV.

The mother also spoke of her enduring suffering following the loss of her son, and the support she has received from Ms Krakouer and youth detention expert and advocate Gerry Georgatos.

"I would call Gerry or Megan at midnights, 2am, 3am in the morning, crying, suffering, and without them I don't know if I would have made it," she said.

"These two beautiful people have been there for me and my family all the way."

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4 min read
Published 19 March 2024 4:11pm
By Kearyn Cox, Dan Butler
Source: NITV


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