Tasmanian child detained for 55 hours in adult watch house cell
Children have been detained in adult watch houses for up to 55 hours at a time, figures show, a year on since the Tasmanian government was urged to completely phase out the use of adult facilities for kids.
In the past financial year, Tasmanian authorities detained a child for 55 hours in a cell typically used for temporary adult detention, according to figures obtained through a right-to-information request by the Tasmanian Greens. Advocates for children question how the issue of confining minors in adult facilities is being addressed, as reform of watch houses is not included in the state government's youth justice reform plan.
The government has pledged to explore the idea of a separate youth remand facility for young people, but advocates remain concerned about the lack of progress. Last financial year, children were detained in Tasmanian prison watch houses over 300 times, including one 55-hour detention. Watch house cells, designed for short-term detention, lack the facilities of longer-term prisons.
The longest detention time for a child during this period was 55 hours, with the child housed at Hobart Reception Prison due to longer wait times for transfer to Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Advocates argue that the government's actions do not match its commitment to addressing this issue, citing a small reduction in the number of receptions.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has emphasized that children should never be held in adult custodial facilities, as it compromises their health, safety, and future ability to avoid reoffending.
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