A coroner in Western Australia may recommend shutting down Unit 18, a prison unit where 16-year-old Indigenous boy Cleveland Dodd fatally self-harmed in October 2023. The move follows a long-running inquest that has uncovered severe failures in the youth detention system.
Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside his cell in the early morning hours of October 12, 2023. He had been held in Unit 18, a youth wing inside Casuarina, a high-security adult prison in Perth. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and died a week later on October 19, surrounded by family.
His death triggered public outrage and grief. The coroner leading the inquest, Philip Urquhart, delivered preliminary findings on Tuesday. He said Cleveland’s treatment revealed that youth justice in Western Australia was in deep crisis at the time of the incident — and had been for some time.
Urquhart stated that everything must be done to stop future deaths of children in youth custody. This could include closing Unit 18 entirely.
The inquest uncovered that Cleveland had been kept inside his cell for excessive hours and had no access to basic needs, such as running water. He also did not receive proper mental health care, education, recreation, or even fresh air.
Staff failed to follow standard procedures, such as wearing radios for communication and monitoring at-risk detainees. The condition of Cleveland’s cell also made it possible for him to self-harm.
The justice department has accepted responsibility for several key failings, including Cleveland’s living conditions and lack of care. The coroner emphasized the department’s inability to provide safe supervision and proper support.
“There is much evidence to suggest that these needs of Cleveland were not adequately met,” said Urquhart.
Testimonies from prison staff described Unit 18 as a place filled with chaos and poor working conditions. One staff member even referred to it as a “war zone.”
Many officers reported being overworked, undertrained, and unsupported. Some spoke about extreme confinement practices, where detainees were locked in their cells for up to 24 hours a day.
Staff also noted a chronic shortage of personnel, adding further pressure to an already broken system. According to the coroner, these descriptions helped paint a picture of the harsh and dangerous environment in Unit 18.
The coroner is now considering whether to call for a special inquiry under the Public Sector Management Act. The inquiry would look into how Unit 18 came to be established in 2022 and why it continued to operate despite warnings and failures.
Urquhart suggested that the justice department might not be the right body to manage youth detention in the future. He is reviewing whether its control over the youth justice estate should end.
He also pointed out that any future adverse findings would relate only to actions taken in Unit 18 and events directly tied to Cleveland’s death.
According to the inquest, Cleveland self-harmed around 1:35 am. At 1:51 am, an officer opened his cell door. A red alert was issued three minutes later at 1:54 am, and paramedics arrived by 2:06 am.
However, paramedics were unable to reach Cleveland for nine minutes after arriving. By that time, the teenager was in cardiac arrest. He was partially revived and taken to hospital, but he had already suffered a severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.
One week later, he died at the hospital. His passing has become a symbol of the broader failures in youth justice for Indigenous children in Western Australia.
Cleveland Dodd’s death has deeply affected the community, especially Indigenous families who have long called for reform. His family has been present throughout the inquest, demanding accountability and change.
Lawyers involved in the case have described Cleveland’s treatment as cruel and inhumane. They argued that the conditions he endured inside Unit 18 would never be acceptable for any child.
