Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre

The Don Dale Juvenile Detention Centre in Berrimah, Darwin opened in 1991 and was the first purpose built institution for young offenders in the Northern Territory. It provided secure accommodation for up to 25 boys and girls, aged between 10 and 16 or 17. The Centre replaced Malak House and took in young offenders from all over the Northern Territory. In July 2016, the Prime Minister at the time, Malcolm Turnbull, announced the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT (‘the Royal Commission’) to inquire into the mistreatment of children and young people in juvenile detention at Don Dale and other facilities in the Northern Territory after the ‘Four Corners’ program reported on the shocking treatment of children at the institution.

In 2017, the Royal Commission publish its findings and recommendations in a 68 page report which indicated that there was an identified systemic and departmental failing in dealing with young persons not just placed at Don Dale Detention Centre but at other institutions in the Northern Territory. In particular, the Royal Commission found the major following problems (amongst others):

  • The youth detention centres used during the relevant period were not fit for accommodating, let alone rehabilitating, children and young people;

  • The poor condition of youth detention centres created the potential for harm to be caused to children and young people. The inadequate facilities put children and young people’s health, safety and wellbeing at serious risk, and played a part in incidents that occurred at youth detention centres;

  • At different times and in different youth detention centres during the relevant period, the conditions under which children and young people were detained fell far short of acceptable standards under international instruments and Australian guidelines. Severe, prison-like and unhygienic conditions, and inadequate security due to poor infrastructure, caused children and young people to suffer punishment;

  • Detainees were frequently subjected to verbal abuse and racist remarks;

  • At times, youth justice officers deliberately withheld detainees’ access to basic human needs such as water, food and the use of toilets;

  • Excessive force was often used to restrain young people; and

  • At times, some female detainees and former detainees at the former Don Dale Youth Detention Centre were subject to inappropriate sexualised attention including touching, flirting and sexualised comments by some male youth justice officers.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical against staff members at various institutions around Australia.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.