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Violence and isolation used to punish young detainees, inquiry told Violence and isolation used to punish young detainees, inquiry told
(about 2 hours later)
Violence and isolation were used as punishments by Northern Territory juvenile detention guards who were tired and overworked, a former detainee has told the royal commission.Violence and isolation were used as punishments by Northern Territory juvenile detention guards who were tired and overworked, a former detainee has told the royal commission.
The inquiry into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory began its latest public hearing on Monday with written and spoken testimony from 21-year-old Jamal Turner, who said while some youth justice officers were good with young detainees, others meted out disrespect and abuse.The inquiry into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory began its latest public hearing on Monday with written and spoken testimony from 21-year-old Jamal Turner, who said while some youth justice officers were good with young detainees, others meted out disrespect and abuse.
“Some guards would pick kids up and throw them around, against walls or on the floor. I think that violence was used by the bad guards as punishment,” Turner said. “Often it looked like the guards just needed to release their anger. Violence could come from the bad guards at any time without warning.”“Some guards would pick kids up and throw them around, against walls or on the floor. I think that violence was used by the bad guards as punishment,” Turner said. “Often it looked like the guards just needed to release their anger. Violence could come from the bad guards at any time without warning.”
He said during his 10 bouts of detention he never attempted self-harm or endangered the safety of others and he believed he was put in isolation several times “just to be punished”.He said during his 10 bouts of detention he never attempted self-harm or endangered the safety of others and he believed he was put in isolation several times “just to be punished”.
Turner accused youth justice officer Derek Tasker, who will also appear as a witness during this hearing, of grabbing him by the throat on his first day at the Alice Springs facility, Aranda House. Turner was sent to Aranda House at the age of 14 after absconding from the Bush Mob rehab program, an act he said he regretted.Turner accused youth justice officer Derek Tasker, who will also appear as a witness during this hearing, of grabbing him by the throat on his first day at the Alice Springs facility, Aranda House. Turner was sent to Aranda House at the age of 14 after absconding from the Bush Mob rehab program, an act he said he regretted.
At Aranda House, Turner said, he went to pat a dog and Tasker grabbed him around the throat with both hands, lifted him up and pinned him against the wall.At Aranda House, Turner said, he went to pat a dog and Tasker grabbed him around the throat with both hands, lifted him up and pinned him against the wall.
“I was quite small at the time and I couldn’t breathe,” Turner said.“I was quite small at the time and I couldn’t breathe,” Turner said.
The commission heard Tasker had accused Turner of kicking the dog, which Turner denied.
He said that was the only time Tasker mistreated him, but alleged Tasker was “always rough” with detainees.He said that was the only time Tasker mistreated him, but alleged Tasker was “always rough” with detainees.
In 2014 Tasker was found not guilty of an alleged aggravated assault against 13-year-old Dylan Voller, and continues to work in the youth justice sector.In 2014 Tasker was found not guilty of an alleged aggravated assault against 13-year-old Dylan Voller, and continues to work in the youth justice sector.
Voller, who was released from prison on bail to Bush Mob last month, led a protest outside the commission on Monday in support of other former detainees.Voller, who was released from prison on bail to Bush Mob last month, led a protest outside the commission on Monday in support of other former detainees.
“Everyone else from around the country and around the world supported me, so it’s my turn to give back while I’ve got an open voice,” he said. “It is a hard process to go through and I sincerely hope the government listens to the commission recommendations.”“Everyone else from around the country and around the world supported me, so it’s my turn to give back while I’ve got an open voice,” he said. “It is a hard process to go through and I sincerely hope the government listens to the commission recommendations.”
In his evidence Turner also alleged an Alice Springs juvenile detention centre officer kicked him for taking fruit from a fridge and had “smacked around, thrown around, dragged around and sworn at” other detainees.In his evidence Turner also alleged an Alice Springs juvenile detention centre officer kicked him for taking fruit from a fridge and had “smacked around, thrown around, dragged around and sworn at” other detainees.
At the same facility Turner was allegedly assaulted by a guard who told him “come to the toilet where there are no cameras and I’ll kick your fucking head in”, before pushing him against a wall, cuffing him and throwing him in an isolation cell.At the same facility Turner was allegedly assaulted by a guard who told him “come to the toilet where there are no cameras and I’ll kick your fucking head in”, before pushing him against a wall, cuffing him and throwing him in an isolation cell.
During the hearing Turner said he had grabbed the officer by the shirt and held him against the wall while defending younger cousins. The guard then restrained him.During the hearing Turner said he had grabbed the officer by the shirt and held him against the wall while defending younger cousins. The guard then restrained him.
In his statement Turner described being transferred to Aranda House after what he said was a false accusation of yelling, and was placed in isolation for about 80 hours.In his statement Turner described being transferred to Aranda House after what he said was a false accusation of yelling, and was placed in isolation for about 80 hours.
The commission later heard guards said Turner was trying to escape from his cell.
Turner conceded he was kicking the Crimsafe window and his door “just to see if it would break” but denied he was trying to escape.
He said guards “rushed into my cell with shields and bats” before taking him to the facility which “seemed like it had been completely abandoned at the time”, he said.He said guards “rushed into my cell with shields and bats” before taking him to the facility which “seemed like it had been completely abandoned at the time”, he said.
“There were bugs everywhere and ants crawling around from under the door. The room was covered in thick dust and dirt and there was even a dead mouse stuck to the mattress in my cell”.“There were bugs everywhere and ants crawling around from under the door. The room was covered in thick dust and dirt and there was even a dead mouse stuck to the mattress in my cell”.
Turner said Aranda House was the worst of three Northern Territory facilities. Darwin’s Don Dale was “not as bad” because of its programs and activities, he said.Turner said Aranda House was the worst of three Northern Territory facilities. Darwin’s Don Dale was “not as bad” because of its programs and activities, he said.
However he also described his distress at being transferred 1,500km from Alice Springs to Darwin without any warning to himself or his family.However he also described his distress at being transferred 1,500km from Alice Springs to Darwin without any warning to himself or his family.
Turner said he had made several complaints to authorities and statutory bodies, including the children’s commissioner, about detention conditions or treatment, but could not remember having any resolved.Turner said he had made several complaints to authorities and statutory bodies, including the children’s commissioner, about detention conditions or treatment, but could not remember having any resolved.
Turner suggested overwork was a contributing factor to guards’ treatment of detainees. He said as a low security prisoner he cleaned the guards’ office, where he saw the roster and overheard discussion. Many officers were working overtime and only taking a few days off between day and night shifts, he said.Turner suggested overwork was a contributing factor to guards’ treatment of detainees. He said as a low security prisoner he cleaned the guards’ office, where he saw the roster and overheard discussion. Many officers were working overtime and only taking a few days off between day and night shifts, he said.
Counsel assisting the commission, Tony McAvoy SC, told the commission several current and former juvenile detention staff members were scheduled to appear and would tell “of a culture where bullying, lack of support, chronic and constant short-staffing and woeful training are the norm”.Counsel assisting the commission, Tony McAvoy SC, told the commission several current and former juvenile detention staff members were scheduled to appear and would tell “of a culture where bullying, lack of support, chronic and constant short-staffing and woeful training are the norm”.
“The youth justice officers themselves will tell of the great challenges they face working in a system which does not give them the tools to do their job – support and rehabilitate the young people in their charge,” he said.“The youth justice officers themselves will tell of the great challenges they face working in a system which does not give them the tools to do their job – support and rehabilitate the young people in their charge,” he said.
The former Labor corrections minister Gerry McCarthy and former CLP minister John Elferink are also scheduled to appear.The former Labor corrections minister Gerry McCarthy and former CLP minister John Elferink are also scheduled to appear.
Monday’s hearing continues with closed testimony by another witness and a former supervisor.Monday’s hearing continues with closed testimony by another witness and a former supervisor.