The Justice Reform Initiative has backed calls from the family of Cleveland Dodd, who died in custody last week, for the closure of Unit 18, the stand-alone youth facility at Western Australian maximum security adult prison, Casuarina.
It comes as WA premier Roger Cook admitted the situation was "not good enough".
Cleveland, who was 16, was the first child to die in WA juvenile detention in the state's history and his death is being investigated by the Department of Justice, the coroner, and the Corruption and Crime Commission.
On Monday Justice Reform Initiatives Executive Director Dr Mindy Sotiri said she supported calls by Cleveland's family for immediate and meaningful change at Banksia Hill detention centre, the state's main youth prison, and Unit 18.
She said the facilities should be urgently closed in the wake of the tragedy in order to prevent further harm to the children detained there.
"We are heartbroken for Cleveland Dodd's family and community, who expressed concern for his welfare in multiple settings and yet were let down by a system that failed them," Dr Sotiri said.
She told National Indigenous Times that "committing to close Unit 18 is a political decision, it can happen straight away".
Cleveland's family said in a statement that he had never self-harmed prior to being detained in Unit 18 for a prolonged period on remand.
The Justice Reform Initiative said most of the children housed in Unit 18 were on remand; subject to solitary confinement - being kept in their cells for 22 hours plus per day whilst they await their court appearances.
"Bail applications are often, as in this case, repeatedly adjourned due, in part, to persistent administrative delays and a lack of alternative options the court can turn to in lieu of detention," they said in a statement.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Bunuba woman, June Oscar AO, said, "prison is no place for our children".
"The evidence is clear, the recommendations for prevention have been made over and over again. Placing children in detention robs them of their childhood and deprives them from accessing the support they need," she said.
The disability Royal Commission this month reaffirmed that the treatment of children in youth detention was harmful and inhumane. This is especially true for children with complex needs.
Dr Sotiri said the WA government needed to act with urgently to prevent further harm to children.
"We cannot accept keeping children locked in facilities we know are harming them; and we cannot accept more government inaction," Dr Sotiri said.
"Research very clearly shows the answer to reducing incarceration, and the cycle of disadvantage and imprisonment, is not about building new 'purpose built' facilities or new prisons – it is about investing in proven community-led supports and programs that address the drivers of incarceration."
Premier Cook said riots at Banksia Hill in July 2022 had forced some inmates to be moved to Unit 18. Both Unit 18 and Banksia Hill have been plagued by high rates of self-harm incidents and detainees being placed into prolonged lockdowns.
Human rights groups have long criticised the decision to move children to a wing of an Adult maximum-security prison.
Dr Sotiri said the government must urgently commit to a timeline to close the "failing" Unit 18 and Banksia Hill prisons and invest in evidence-based alternatives outside of the justice system that works to address disadvantage, to stop the cycle of incarceration, and to turn lives around."
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
13YARN 13 92 76
Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905
