Warning: This story contains details and content that some readers may find distressing.
A teenage boy has died inside Banksia Hill Detention Centre in Perth in what is the second death at the facility in 12 months.
Western Australia’s Department of Justice confirmed the 17-year-old was found unresponsive during a nightly check by staff about 9.50pm on Thursday (11.50pm AEST) after a suspected suicide.
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The teenager arrived at the centre on Tuesday night.
Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said the boy was intoxicated and had potentially taken illicit drugs.
He was monitored under intense supervision for 24 hours before being deemed a low risk and transferred to a general unit at midday yesterday and was allowed out of his cell until the evening.
Staff checked on the 17-year-old 10 times over the course of last night, between 6pm and 10pm, finding him unresponsive on the 11th occasion and providing CPR.
Despite their efforts and those of paramedics, the teenager couldn’t be saved.
“For everyone at the scene, they did their very, very best,” Royce said.
Royce attended Banksia Hill overnight and expressed his “immense sorrow and condolences to the family and community”.
“The Department of Communities will offer the boy’s family support,” a department spokesperson also said in a statement.
“Young people at Banksia Hill will be provided counselling and cultural services to assist them during this difficult time.”
The WA Police chaplain has been providing care to staff at the facility who also have access to departmental support.
The circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated by police on behalf of the state coroner.
The state opposition has called on the corrective services minister to hand in his portfolio.
Premier Roger Cook, while admitting failure, insists the facility has vastly improved.
“A failure has occurred, but we will continue to ensure we do everything we can to improve the lives of the staff and those at the facility and continue our pathway of reform,” he said.
The death is the second in the last year after Cleveland Dodd died at the facility in October.
WA Greens MLC Dr Brad Pettitt said his heart went out to the boy’s family and community.
“Today, we’ve heard the devastating news that our broken youth justice system has failed another young person in their care, this time at Banksia Hill Detention Centre,” Pettitt said in a statement.
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“My thoughts are also with the other young people in detention at Banksia Hill who now have to deal with the death of one of their peers.
“WA’s Youth Justice system must be urgently reformed, including a range of youth facilities that separate remand and sentenced youth, keep kids on country and connected to culture.
“There have only been two deaths in the history of WA’s youth justice system and they have both been in the last 12 months.
“Tweaks to WA’s broken youth justice system won’t cut it, it needs a major overhaul and fresh leadership.”
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