A Queensland government report has raised concerns over the use of solitary confinement in youth detention, detailing the case of two First Nations children with disabilities who died after spending extensive time in isolation at overcrowded and understaffed youth detention centres.
The Child Death Review Board’s annual report, tabled in state parliament on Thursday, details the anonymised cases of two boys, Harry* and Jack*. One boy died by suicide and the other by drug overdose.
The report detailed that both boys had an extensive history of trauma, exposure to violence, substance abuse, disengagement from school and subsequently involvement in the criminal justice system.
Both were suspected to have undiagnosed foetal alcohol syndrome, which was not properly identified at an early age.
Harry spent 376 days in a youth detention centre; Jack was detained for 319. Both spent extensive periods in “separation”, which is a bureaucratic term for solitary confinement.
Of the entire time he was in detention, Harry was confined to his cell 78% of the time.
Jack was confined to his cell for more than 22 hours a day on 55 separate days. On 22 days he was in his cell for more than 23 hours. Three times he spent 24 hours in his cell without a break.
The report said one of the boys “experienced incidents of bullying and victimisation from other young people while in detention”.
“Records show he was spat on by other young people, punched in the head, had water thrown on him and was bullied because of his size,” the report said.
“Records show this boy requested to move cells because he feels he is being bullied …[and]… that he is sick of the sexualised behaviours and inappropriate comment[s] by some of the other young people in the unit.
“When he considered that this move was not actioned quickly enough, he tried to flood his cell and his access to water was turned off. He reported spending additional time in his cell by choice because he felt unsafe.”
Most of the recorded separations were due to staff shortages. Guardian Australia’s reporting last year revealed the true extent of solitary confinement and lockdowns in the Cleveland youth detention centre in Townsville, where children were routinely locked in “separation” for weeks, and received little schooling or other form of rehabilitation.
Concerns were also raised about “filthy” conditions. Staff shortages had been blamed for the extensive lockdowns, and the state government has since said it has recruited more staff.
The death review report said the extended separations “significantly impacted” Jack’s access to education, therapeutic and cultural programs, social and leisure activities, exercise, fresh air and sunlight.
“Youth Justice noted separation periods directly led to [Jack] having limited ability to engage in criminogenic programs during his time remanded,” it said.
“While the number and length of separations experienced by [Harry] were not as significant, he too had his programs, education and activities interrupted by staff shortages and separations.”
The report labelled separation “counter-productive”.
“Rather than improving behaviour, it creates problems with reintegration and fails to address the underlying causes of behaviour,” it said.
When both boys were locked in confinement, the number of incidents they were involved in increased.
“Both boys experienced heightened emotions and behaviours as a direct result of extended periods of separations and the associated reduction in access to activities and programs,” the report said.
An incident report about Jack recorded that he “appeared extremely agitated and it was clear that [he] was frustrated being in the unit and with minimal activities”.
Other records related to Jack detail “behavioural escalations” during separation periods including being verbally abusive and kicking the cell door. In August 2021, he armed himself with a broom and afterwards told staff he had not wanted to return to his cell after only an hour and 12 minutes outside. Some of his personal belongings were confiscated in response.
“There is a trend with the number of behavioural incidents increasing as his time locked in his cell per day increased,” the report said.
The report raised concern that the youth detention system – particularly the practice of placing children in separation, isolation or solitary confinement – can affect their health and wellbeing in “severe, long-term and irreversible ways”.
“Many of the children and young people in detention have experienced a life of significant disadvantage and marginalisation, with many being the victims of abuse and neglect,” it said.
“Being confined in a cell for extended periods of time, without interaction with peers, family, culture and support networks creates an environment of re-traumatisation. Research has shown pre-existing mental health problems are likely exacerbated by experiences during incarceration, such as isolation, boredom and victimisation.”
The report said Harry enjoyed fishing, basketball, football and computer games. He had a mild language disorder, suspected foetal alcohol syndrome and reported feelings of anxiety and suicidal ideation. He had poor emotional regulation and problem solving skills and demonstrated antisocial behaviour from about age 11. He went to detention nine separate times.
Jack liked to play football. He was the victim of a sexual assault at age 14, about the same time he became involved in the youth justice system. He suffered from multiple suspected disabilities, some which were not properly diagnosed, and had cognitive and language impairments.
Greens MP Michael Berkman said the information about the deaths should spark “an immediate end to, or at least an investigation into” the use of separation in youth prisons.
“It shouldn’t take two tragic deaths like this to wake the government up. But if not now, when?” Berkman said.
“This report confirms a devastating truth: that isolating children in detention compounds their mental and emotional distress, and is driving some children to suicide.”
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
• In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, and adult survivors can contact Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International
