Use of excessive force among problems with NT youth detention: report
Lack of staff training, an excessive use of force, and a reliance on the confinement of detainees are among the problems with the Northern Territory's youth detention system, a report has found.
The NT Government commissioned a review into youth detention centres last October, after a number of incidents including a violent riot that saw staff at the old youth detention facility tear gas teenagers.
Six teenagers tried to escape the old Don Dale facility last August, and armed themselves with glass, barricaded doors and smashed windows and light fittings.
The facility was forced to shut and 32 detainees were moved to the old adult prison at Berrimah before an upgrade of the jail was completed late last year.
The report made 16 recommendations, including training all staff in a number of areas like case management, use of force, dealing with detainees with mental health problems, and cultural awareness.
"I have been critical on a number of occasions of Don Dale in the past," Correctional Services Minister John Elferink said.
"Part of the reasons is things like dormitories not having toilets in them.
"It led to those dormitories often stinking of urine because people at night would often urinate in the corner.
"But this is why we've asked for information, or a review, to be conducted, so we can look inward and say 'how can we do this job better?'"
The report also recommended a review of the case management process and protecting staff with equipment so they can deal with emergency situations.
The Government has promised to implement all of the recommendations made by the report in full.
The Government has also unveiled a $1 million upgrade of the Don Dale centre, including new classrooms, a paint job and more buildings.
NT Correctional Services Commissioner Ken Middlebrook said the new facility was an improvement.
"In a correctional environment like this, dealing with volatile young people in inappropriate infrastructure, I think our stuff did remarkably well to contain those young people in that infrastructure," he said.
"We now have a facility that we can separate those young people, we can manage this a lot better.
"I know from the time that I spend here with the staff on the ground, they certainly feel more confident, they feel safer, and certainly the detainees here are held in a safer environment."
