Victoria
Children Detained in Adult Max Security Prison
In 2016, the VSC found that the government acted unlawfully by transferring children to the Grevillea Unit within the Barwon adult maximum security prison. Evidence presented showed that detained children were kept in ‘cruel condition including solitary confinement,’ with limited outdoor time and minimal family contact.
Children’s Commissioner Finds Youth Confined in Isolation
A 2016 review by Victoria’s Children’s Commissioner found that some youth were confined in isolation for extended periods, primarily due to staff shortages in youth detention facilities.
Report Reveals Children Under Forced Lockdowns
The 2017 report titled ‘The Same Four Walls’ found that children in Victorian youth detention were subjected to forced lockdowns due to staffing issues. Some were confined in their cells for extended periods without access to toilets, leading them to urinate and defecate on the floors.
Victoria Enacts Youth Justice Act 2024
The Victorian Youth Justice Act 2024 introduced an explicit ban on solitary confinement for all young people in youth justice centres, however it still permits practices like ‘extended isolation’.
Children in Detention Isolated for over 24 hours
The same 2017 report, ‘The Same Four Walls’, documented that some detained children were isolated in their cells for 24 hours or more, often as a result of staff shortages and operational issues.
Law Expressly Permits Isolating a Young Person as Punishment
While this legislation is an important step, children in Victoria can still be held in isolation under the guise of ‘security’. These conditions often lead to the same long-term harm as solitary confinement.