Juvenile justice
‘Hanging on by a thread’: Child safety officers leaving job daily
Faced with extreme stress, abuse and low pay, child safety and youth justice staff are being driven out of the job – to the detriment of the state’s most vulnerable children.
- by Cloe Read
Latest
Opinion
WA courts
Will the Cook government put an end to the brutalising of children and young people in the youth justice system?
This week’s decision in the Supreme Court should immediately trigger a rethink of how youth justice works in Western Australia and an end to the ‘law and order’ approach to the issue.
- by Greg Barns SC
Updated
Banksia Hill
Solitary confinement of WA children at Banksia Hill illegal, Supreme Court rules
The court found the Department of Justice unlawfully locked three young people in their cells at Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18 inside an adult prison.
- by Daile Cross
Updated
Crime
‘Adult level of planning’: Teen girls to remain in custody over Perth Facebook Marketplace knife attack
A Banksia Grove man wanted to sell his old iPhone, but after he opened his door to the two youths, this simple transaction turned into an alleged knife attack.
- by Heather McNeill
‘Fever pitch’: Youth prison workers walk off job amid assaults, threats
Detainees at Brisbane’s youth prisons allegedly attacked staff with a makeshift knife and punched another in the face in separate incidents this week.
- by Zach Hope
Opinion
Opinion
Want more staff at rat-infested Banksia Hill? Pay them more
A read of inspector Eamon Ryan’s report reveals staffing issues are ultimately at the heart of most of the issues in the facility, more staff means less time kids are locked in their cells and more opportunities for detainees to take part in rehabilitative programs.
- by Hamish Hastie
Updated
Banksia Hill
‘Every element of Banksia Hill is failing’: Damning report reveals ‘emergency’ at WA’s only youth detention centre
The report will heap pressure on new Premier Roger Cook and new Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia, who are both officially just one day into their jobs.
- by Hamish Hastie
‘Ridiculous’: Court banned Qld boy from any car without a youth worker
Advocates say the bail condition, since overturned, highlights the issues facing kids accused of crimes – and the need for a police rethink.
- by Matt Dennien
Opinion
Government
React and repeat? What Palaszczuk’s cabinet shake-up could really tell us
Labor has shown it can be spooked by loud or scary-enough voices. The latest shake-up was reportedly being considered since last month’s slipping polls.
- by Matt Dennien
Banksia Hill detainee slashes ‘alone’ into his forearm with razor
Complaints flooding the Department of Justice regarding Perth’s youth detention centre include female inmates alleging sexual behaviour and violence from guards.
- by Hamish Hastie
Banksia Hill riot cost WA taxpayers tens of millions of dollars: McGowan
Premier Mark McGowan said the figure was the result of early estimates of the damage caused by 49 detainees during a riot last week that lasted more than 14 hours.
- by Hamish Hastie