Tasmania
Tasmanian Inquiry Find’s Violation of UN Convention
The Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into the Ashley Youth Detention Centre found that the use of solitary confinement at the facility violated the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, confirming international legal breaches in how Tasmania treats detained young people.
Staff Shortages Locked Children In for 23 Hours A Day
A 2022 ABC investigation found that due to persistent staff shortages, children at Ashley were locked in their rooms for up to 23 hour per day, creating conditions functionally indistinguishable from solitary confinement.
Youth Spent 35 Straight Days With Just One Hour Out of Cell
One boy detained at Ashley Youth Detention Centre reported spending 35 consecutive days with only one hour out-of-cell time per day, meeting the threshold for solitary confinement under international standards.
Riots Erupted at Ashley After Lockdowns and Overcrowding
Prolonged lockdowns at Ashley Youth Detention Centre, combined with frustration and neglect, led to violent disturbances, including one instance where detainees overpowered guards during a riot.
Youth at Ashley Averaged Only 3 Hours Out of Cell Per Day
A young detainee at Ashley told reporters he now averaged only three hours out of his room per day, underscoring how long-term isolation practices had become part of the daily routine.
Ashley Youths Were Given Just One Hour Out Per Day
Even when not completely locked in, young people at Ashley were reportedly allowed just one-hour blocks of out-of-room time, falling far short of international minimum standards for humane treatment.