This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/16/adult-prison-guard-allegedly-threatened-to-have-youth-detainee-raped-inquiry-told

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Guard at adult prison allegedly threatened to have youth detainee raped, inquiry told Guard at adult prison allegedly threatened to have youth detainee raped, inquiry told
(about 1 hour later)
A guard at a Northern Territory adult prison allegedly threatened to have a 17-year-old detainee raped, the royal commission has heard in Alice Springs.A guard at a Northern Territory adult prison allegedly threatened to have a 17-year-old detainee raped, the royal commission has heard in Alice Springs.
The royal commission into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory heard the allegations from a former juvenile detainee on Thursday, who also added to mounting reports of inadequate medical care in the facilities.The royal commission into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory heard the allegations from a former juvenile detainee on Thursday, who also added to mounting reports of inadequate medical care in the facilities.
The witness, BY, was detained at both the Alice Springs and Darwin juvenile detention centres as a child.The witness, BY, was detained at both the Alice Springs and Darwin juvenile detention centres as a child.
Two days after a disturbance at Don Dale during which, BY said, he threw a chair that struck a youth officer, the detainee, then 17, was sent to the adult prison.Two days after a disturbance at Don Dale during which, BY said, he threw a chair that struck a youth officer, the detainee, then 17, was sent to the adult prison.
He alleged a guard asked him when he would turn 18. “When I told him he said, ‘Oh so you’ll get transferred back here soon. Good, I’ll get some of the guys to rape you when you get back’,” his statement said. He alleged a guard asked him when he would turn 18. “When I told him he said, ‘Oh so you’ll get transferred back here soon. Good, I’ll get some of the guys to rape you when you get back,’” his statement said.
BY said was kept in isolation in the prison’s “back cells” for five days, and was only allowed to shower twice.BY said was kept in isolation in the prison’s “back cells” for five days, and was only allowed to shower twice.
BY said he was put in a spithood twice during the stay, even though he had not spat at anyone, and was made to shower in open recesses with adult prisoners. He said he was put in a spithood twice during the stay, even though he had not spat at anyone, and was made to shower in open recesses with adult prisoners.
The detainee had been transferred to Darwin from Alice Springs, a move he felt he had been “tricked” into.The detainee had been transferred to Darwin from Alice Springs, a move he felt he had been “tricked” into.
He said authorities at Alice Springs said the centre was overcrowded and the move would only be for four weeks, but he ended up staying nine months and was told he had to secure a lower security classification before he’d be allowed to return.He said authorities at Alice Springs said the centre was overcrowded and the move would only be for four weeks, but he ended up staying nine months and was told he had to secure a lower security classification before he’d be allowed to return.
“I would never have volunteered to go if I knew it would be nine months away from my family,” he said. “I was angry, lonely, and frustrated because my family could not visit me.”“I would never have volunteered to go if I knew it would be nine months away from my family,” he said. “I was angry, lonely, and frustrated because my family could not visit me.”
Other witnesses have also spoken of transfers between the two facilities, 1,500km apart, often allegedly without prior notice to them or their families.Other witnesses have also spoken of transfers between the two facilities, 1,500km apart, often allegedly without prior notice to them or their families.
A former officer in charge, Derek Tasker, denied this was common.A former officer in charge, Derek Tasker, denied this was common.
On Thursday BY also said a youth worker had twisted his arm behind his back during an incident – which also resulted in him and other detainees allegedly being left without clothes or bedding in a wet cell overnight – and hurt his shoulder. On Thursday BY also said a youth worker had twisted his arm behind his back – which also resulted in him and other detainees allegedly being left without clothes or bedding in a wet cell overnight – and hurt his shoulder.
“I was asking for about two months to see a nurse,” he said. “All that happened is I went to the Palmerston clinic and got an ultrasound on my shoulder and I never heard back from the results.”“I was asking for about two months to see a nurse,” he said. “All that happened is I went to the Palmerston clinic and got an ultrasound on my shoulder and I never heard back from the results.”
In another incident BY became frustrated and punched a wall, injuring his hand. He requested a nurse, who said he needed to go to the medical centre. BY claimed a guard responded: “Fuck him, if he wants to punch the wall that’s his problem.”In another incident BY became frustrated and punched a wall, injuring his hand. He requested a nurse, who said he needed to go to the medical centre. BY claimed a guard responded: “Fuck him, if he wants to punch the wall that’s his problem.”
He said most of the time at Don Dale and Alice Springs he saw a nurse soon after requesting it, but a response took longer at the adult jail.He said most of the time at Don Dale and Alice Springs he saw a nurse soon after requesting it, but a response took longer at the adult jail.
BY’s testimony followed claims by another detainee witness earlier this week who said he had broken his collarbone playing sport while in detention, but was not given pain medication and was forced to do chores including sweeping the next day. He was not given medical care for two or three days, and a few months later was forced to play sport again. He rebroke the bone. BY’s testimony followed claims by another detainee witness this week who said he had broken his collarbone playing sport while in detention but was not given pain medication and was forced to do chores including sweeping the next day. He was not given medical care for two or three days, and a few months later was forced to play sport again. He rebroke the bone.
BY’s grandmother also took to the stand. Referred to as witness CA, the Kngwarraye and Aranda woman said it was a “scary moment” for BY’s family when he was first detained because they didn’t know the process and police were unhelpful.BY’s grandmother also took to the stand. Referred to as witness CA, the Kngwarraye and Aranda woman said it was a “scary moment” for BY’s family when he was first detained because they didn’t know the process and police were unhelpful.
She said she would push the boy’s non-Indigenous mother to get answers because “the attitude changed when I came to the police station to find out things.” She said she would push the boy’s non-Indigenous mother to get answers because “the attitude changed when I came to the police station to find out things”.
CA, a qualified suicide prevention and family wellbeing trainer who sat on a government advisory panel, said Aboriginal kids were “put in one box” and not looked at individually to see if family could help with rehabilitation.CA, a qualified suicide prevention and family wellbeing trainer who sat on a government advisory panel, said Aboriginal kids were “put in one box” and not looked at individually to see if family could help with rehabilitation.
She said authorities assumed her grandson came from a broken and dysfunctional home, when “his parents are good parents, both workers, homebuyers, and credit to them, we kept the values and beliefs from my parents and grandparents”.She said authorities assumed her grandson came from a broken and dysfunctional home, when “his parents are good parents, both workers, homebuyers, and credit to them, we kept the values and beliefs from my parents and grandparents”.
She said she’d like to put together a team, including mental health professionals and Aboriginal support workers, to individually assess and work with detainees on mental health, education, and goals for their rehabilitation. She said she wouldd like to put together a team, including mental health professionals and Aboriginal support workers, to individually assess and work with detainees on mental health, education, and goals for their rehabilitation.
However she said there was only a limited number of people, and local elders were already engaged in a number of programs across the community. But she said there was only a limited number of people, and local elders were already engaged in a number of programs across the community. She also said a lot of people working in the community were “yes people”.
She also said a lot of people working in the community were “yes people”. “They don’t speak for the children or for themselves. If somebody in authority says you have to do this, they say yes and go off and do it. There’s got to be a little bit of challenge to authority, with their knowledge and skills.”
“They don’t speak for the children or for themselves. If somebody in authority says you have to do this, they say yes and go off and do it. There’s got to be a little bit of challenge to authority, with their knowledge and skills,” she said.
On Thursday afternoon the commission heard from a panel of education professionals, who spoke of the difficulties in providing education inside detention.On Thursday afternoon the commission heard from a panel of education professionals, who spoke of the difficulties in providing education inside detention.
David Glyde, at the Owen Springs school inside the Alice Springs facility, said staff would find out day to day how many and which detainees would be in class, and it was difficult to assess individual students’ educational levels and abilities.David Glyde, at the Owen Springs school inside the Alice Springs facility, said staff would find out day to day how many and which detainees would be in class, and it was difficult to assess individual students’ educational levels and abilities.
Glyde also said the school had “never seen a need” for Aboriginal interpreters to assist students who spoke English as a second, third, or fourth language.Glyde also said the school had “never seen a need” for Aboriginal interpreters to assist students who spoke English as a second, third, or fourth language.
Dr Christine Connors, general manager for strategic primary health care in the Darwin region, was taken through the at-risk youth procedure that was revised in 2016 based on the children’s commissioner’s finding and remains in place. Dr Christine Connors, general manager for strategic primary healthcare in the Darwin region, was taken through the at-risk youth procedure that was revised in 2016 based on the children’s commissioner’s finding and remains in place.
She said they had pushed for the revision to include family at early intervention stages.She said they had pushed for the revision to include family at early intervention stages.
The commission also heard a young detainee could only be taken off an at-risk designation by a medical practitioner and this was problematic without one on-site 24 hours a day.The commission also heard a young detainee could only be taken off an at-risk designation by a medical practitioner and this was problematic without one on-site 24 hours a day.
The commission continues in Alice Springs.The commission continues in Alice Springs.