First Nations advocates are calling for an urgent investigation into Queensland’s youth detention centres after figures revealed 84% of children placed in solitary confinement over a 12-month period were Indigenous.
The statistics, tabled in state parliament this month, showed while Indigenous children account for 62% of Queensland’s youth detention population, they made up 84% of those placed in solitary confinement between July 2021 to June 2022.
There were more than 25,800 separations involving Indigenous children, with tens of thousands of children across the state held in solitary confinement for up to 12 hours, according to the figures.
About 80% of children in detention in Queensland are on remand, meaning they are being held in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.
Cheryl Axleby, co-chair of the Aboriginal-led coalition of advocacy groups Change the Record, said the “appalling” figures show an investigation is desperately needed.
“We know that locking children up in isolation for any amount of time causes them harm,” Axleby said.
“To learn that dozens of those children were isolated because they threatened self-harm is extremely disturbing. These children need our help and support, not punishment.”
Maggie Munn, an Indigenous rights campaigner for Amnesty International Australia, called on the state government to ban the “shameful” practice of solitary confinement on children.
Munn’s demand comes three decades after the 1991 royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody recommended solitary confinement be prohibited when used for punishment or behaviour management.
“I’m disgusted that it’s still happening and that Aboriginal babies are experiencing this at such a high rate,” Munn said.
“To keep a child in solitary confinement for a long period of time is completely disproportionate. It exposes kids to a lot more harm than good.”
Greens MP says figures ‘incredibly alarming’
The statistics were revealed in a response from the state’s youth justice minister, Leanne Linard, to a question on notice from the Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman.
The data showed 30,200 young people in Queensland were held in solitary confinement between six and 12 hours from July 2021 to June 2022.
There were 602 occasions where children were held in a separation room for more than 12 hours and 83 instances where children were held for more than 24 hours, excluding overnight rest periods.
In more than 2,800 occasions, solitary confinement was used on a child under 14 years of age and, in 50 instances, separation occurred due to a young person threatening self-harm.
Berkman said the figures were “incredibly alarming”.
He said the government should end the solitary confinement of children, introduce alternatives for mental health crises and raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14.
“The last thing a child in severe emotional distress needs is to be locked in a room alone,” he told Guardian Australia.
“There’s clear evidence that solitary confinement has serious and lifelong impacts on a child’s health – that’s why it’s prohibited under international human rights law.”
Siyavash Doostkhah, director of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland, said the separation of children during vulnerable periods of their development was “particularly concerning” and would do little to change their behaviour.
“We’re talking about children that come from neglect and abuse backgrounds,” Doostkhah said. “Abusing in this way further in these facilities is just reigniting those traumas … it becomes a perpetual cycle.”
The Department of Youth Justice said detention centres “are complex and difficult environments” and the “safety of staff, young people and visitors is paramount”.
A department spokesperson said young people can be placed in solitary confinement as a response to emergencies or “health, safety and security requirements”, such as contraband searches.
“Separations are an essential option to ensure the safety, security and good order of youth detention centres and ensure the welfare of all, including other young people and staff,” they said.
“Separations are subject to strict approvals, supervision protocols, time limits and record keeping, ensuring they are reasonable and justified and meet legislative requirements.”
