Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We know the government's announced a new agreement between NT
Corrections and G four S to expand prisoner transport and
custody services across the Northern Territory. So it's going to
see eighty five additional G four S officers deployed over
the next six months, delivering what the Government's described as
critical support so police can spend more time in the
(00:21):
community and correction staff can focus on their core custodial roles.
Now we also know that today in Parliament there's being
changes introduced on urgency when it comes to the Youth
Justice Act, which is also going to see some changes
for the ways in which youth are dealt with in
our correctional facilities. Now joining us in the studio is
(00:42):
the Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley, Good morning to you, Good
morning Katie, and also the Deputy Commissioner and Youth Justice
and Community Corrections Sasha Dentis, Good morning to you, Good morning, Katie.
Thank you both very much for your time this morning. Now, Commissioner,
I might go across to you first. One of these
eighty five a tional G four officers going to be deployed.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
We hope to have them on the ground by the
end of the year, Katie. We have twenty as you know,
already working in Darwin as part of the local court
custody center there and of course doing metropolitan transport. This
is the next phase of that expansion. We've always said
right back at the start of the year that the
contract allowed us to order more services as we grew
(01:25):
and established the model, and that's what we've done. We
have ads out in the market at the moment for
new officers to join that service if they choose to,
and we're hoping that we'll have two training courses online
towards the back end of the year and in time
for Christmas.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay, so there's still a little while off. What roles
are they going to assist with?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So this is a role called a Prisoner Custody and
Transport officer, Katie. That's the job description that has been
put to market. It is about providing metropolitan Darwin transfer
and transport services. We're already doing some of those now,
moving people from watch houses or our prisons to court
and back, but this will take that model to a
(02:06):
twenty four to seven basis, so we'll be able to
do it seven days a week. It will expand our
medical escort service. It will also expand our hospital will
the ability to do hospital bedsits in support of our
corrections offices to take some of that pressure off. And
then of course we've also announced a change to how
we're going to operate the Darwin City Watchhouse.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yeah, now, talk us through this because there's been a
bit of chatter around this and we saw it obviously
in the pressure release. Yes, today those G fours officers
are obviously going to manage the Darwin Transitional Custody Center.
Where is that and how's it going to work?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yep? So this is the Darwin City Watchhouse. Corrections has
been operating that for probably over two years now, Katie,
and you've heard me say many times that I don't
really want to have sentenced prisoners or prisoners in watchhouses
for a lot of reasons. Yeah, and that's why we're
building more prison capacity. But this is a model that
we we've identified and learned from Victoria where they have
(03:03):
the Melbourne Custody Center. What this will be is a
flip on the model we have now. So presently we
have corrections offices in there with fifty sentenced prisoners who
are doing cycles of time in that Darwin City Watchhouse
as an overflow from the main center. We believe a
better model and we still need those fifty beds Katie,
obviously as part of the system because we're still growing, right,
(03:24):
But we believe a better model will be for the
G four S officers to operate that facility as a
custody transfer station I suppose and people on remand who
are coming into our custody can spend some time there
until we can find them a bed at the main
prison or they are dealt with by court.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So what will that help in some way with the
situation that we're seeing at the moment at the Palmerston Watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, it's part of the bigger plan, Katie. So we're
conscious that the watch houses are still under pressure and
we appreciate the work that police are doing there. We
know that they're working hard out in the community to
bring offenders to justice. That's their job. We've been working
hard over a year now, all year to work hard
to bring on more capacity at our facilities. We have
(04:11):
the Beremer Correctional Center. We're hoping to activate another two
hundred plus beds there by the back end of August
and we're still building, so there are more works in
the pipeline, Katie, and this is just another part of
that puzzle.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Look, the thing that springs to mind straight away for
me with the Darwin watch House is the fact that
we have had from what I can recall, at least
one escapee from there. I mean, is this facility going
to be safe to be managed by external by G
four S. I know, obviously they get sworn in or
(04:43):
certainly do the training with you guys, but is it
going to be safe for the wider community to have
that operating in our CBD right in the middle of town.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, it's a really good question and it's important one, Katie.
And so as part of that plan of transition, we
are commissioning a joint secure review again of that facility.
Now we've already done that a few times, and each
time we've had an issue in that facility, we've learned,
we've changed procedures, we've upgraded some things, and you know,
we know that watchhouses are not prisons, they're designed differently.
(05:14):
But for the purposes of this custody center, we'll be
working with our experts and G four S to undertake
another security review of that facility to make sure we've
got things right.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
How many people are going to be housey.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
We're targeting fifty kt. That's the safe operating capacity we
think of.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
That facility all right Now, in terms of the expansion
of g fours, how much is it going to cost?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, it's a good question, Katie, So I think in
total we'll be talking around ten million dollars a year
or so for the total service. Now that's already part
of the court system service and the new services that
we're bringing on now. We always said that that cost
would scale as the service grew, and that's what we're doing.
(05:56):
I'm going to be a bit approximate with that number
because not only are we working or we've worked on
salaries and things that are out in the market, but
we've got to work on training costs. We've got to
work on the costs of establishing their logistics and their
transportation and things here in Darwin. And I'm meeting with
them this afternoon to continue working with that.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Okay, Now there's further changes obviously when it comes to
the Youth Justice Act.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Now they're being overhaul.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Like basically the government said that they're introducing legislation on urgency,
overhauling the.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Youth Justice Act Now.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Some of these changes include removing detention as a last resort,
so courts no longer needing to exhaust all alternatives before
remanding a youth, stronger powers for youth justice officers, expanded
powers for the Commissioner to manage emergencies, as well as
the anti spit guards being able to be used again. Now,
Deputy Commissioner, do you anticipate obviously you oversee the youth
(06:51):
correctional facilities and youths. Do you anticipate that we're going
to see an influx of youth prisoners with the removal
of detention as a lot resorder? Are you in are
you planning that you could see increased numbers?
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So, Katie, we've done some modeling to anticipate what may occur.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Obviously, the decision goes to the courts and it's up
to judges to decide whether young people are able to
be bailed or they are remanded while the matter proceeds.
What we have worked towards with the staff in our
youth detention centers is to ensure that we have capacity
and capability for our staff if our numbers do increase.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How many young people have we got in detention at
the moment to cross the end today?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
We currently have fifty nine young people in detention.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Fifteen or five in our springs and there are fifty
four here in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Now. One of the big discussion points I think over
recent days, but certainly something that we heard from the
opposition leader earlier this morning. And I know that you're
both public servants, so not expecting you to get involved
in a political discussion, but there is being so much
set at the moment about youths in youth detention, you know,
going into detention, and it means that they're coming out
(08:07):
better criminals rather than being rehabilitated. What kind of programs
are you doing while they are in detention?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Katie? What I would share with your listeners is the
youth justice.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Staff in our youth detention centers are absolutely committed to
rehabilitating young people. So when they are in detention, they
have a structured day. They are expected to go to school.
It's not optional. They will attend school from nine am
until two thirty pm, and then they participate in various
treatment programs according to their specific needs and their identified
(08:43):
crimogenic risks. We also have a large number of young
people who are able to participate in education programs that
are about pathways into employment. So when you're in detention,
it doesn't mean that you get to sit in your
cell and do nothing. You actually have very clear responsibilities
as a young person. So when you return to your
(09:04):
community as part of your reintegration, it's like returning to
what's expected of you when you're back home.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I mean, what does stuff think? And again I don't
want to get you involved in a political discussion, but
what do stuff sort of think? Then when you hear
these discussions that you know that kids go into youth
detention and that they're not doing any of those kinds
of programs. I mean, if I was working in one
of those jobs, that would probably make me feel pretty upset.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
It's really disappointing when our staff have a very negative
narrative about the work that they do.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
They work with the really most.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Complex, highly difficult young people that are in the territory.
It's a very finityed population who come into our detention
centers and every day they place themselves at risk, and
there needs to be actually more of an acknowledgment of
the work that they do with those young people and
the care that they have. They turn out to work,
(10:00):
they get abuse, they get assaulted, They hear in the
media and are often disparaged about the fact that they
work with these young people. And I'm really proud to
be the Deputy Commissioner of the Youth Justice Team and
the work that we're doing to change their level of
safety and making sure that their workplace is secure.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
With the changes in the bill.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
In terms of some of these changes that are coming
on board, particularly with the spit guards, and I'll get
to that in just a moment, but our staff on
board with those changes, you know, particularly the Youth Justice officers,
are they quite keen to see some of these changes
implement it.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Last night, the Commissioner and I attended a full Youth
Justice staff meeting and we had all of the Youth
Justice staff across the territory join us online and we
were at the Holtz Youth Detention Center and we shared
all of the changes and the amendments in the bill,
and our staff were quite encouraged by the fact that
they had been listed two because these actually came from
(11:02):
our staff. This was what our staff was saying needed
to change to improve the workplace environment, but also the
safety and security of other detainees that are in detention.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And Katie, can I add to that, I think the
important thing to reinforce for the community is not one
youth Justice officer is out there looking to make youth
detention the wrong experience for the young people in the
Lord Territory. Now, what we do have to do is
make sure that the facility is safe and secure. And
you can't have rehabilitation without security and without safety. And
(11:35):
that's just safety for our staff, it's safety for the
other service providers that work in the facility, and it's
safety for the young people, you know. And this is
the piece that people miss is every day our officers
are dealing with highly charged young people who need a
rules based environment to be able to regulate their behavior
(11:55):
and go to school, go and do these programs. Understand
that there are content sequences for your actions so that
you can actually learn a better way in life. And
these reforms are all about that. And I think, you know,
safety and rehabilitation absolutely must go hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Now. I know that this morning it is being reported
by the ABC in terms of it's more, as I understand,
the watch houses. But there's been nearly twenty incidents of
self harm involving children recorded in the Northern Territory in
the watch houses. Now, am I correct to assume that
those children that are in the watch houses, they are
(12:32):
being cared for by Northern Territory police or are they
being cared for by you guys?
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, so let's be really clear, Katie, that data I
think is police data out of the system for custody
at watchhouses. It's not Youth justice Darter. That's the number one.
Secondly is, of course, we have obligations to manage young
people's health and well being, and we have established procedures
in the youth detention system for risk incidents like that.
(12:57):
We have a whole processes to how young people managed
when they display harming behavior, including medical and specialist assessments.
But you know, it's not an uncommon thing. Our staff
deal with some really complex, challenging behaviors and people who
need specialist care.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I mean, I guess the sad part, the frightening part,
the concerning part about that, whether it's in a watch
house or whether it's in the correctional facility. What people
listening this morning will be thinking, is well, it sort
of points to the need for young people to be
in the correct kind of facility rather than a watchhouse.
I mean, what would you say to that?
Speaker 4 (13:35):
What I would say, Katie, and to reassure your listeners
is when a young person does come into a watchhouse,
once they've been arrested, apprehended, and the matter goes before
the judge within an hour at a minimum, they will
be transported to a youth detention facility. If police aren't
able to transport that young person to US, youth justice
(13:58):
officers will travel to a watchouse and collect that young person,
so they do not remain in a watchhouse until they
actually go before that judge. And unfortunately, sometimes over a
weekend you need to wait until.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Two pm for the on call judge to be available.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
But as soon as we do have a warrant for
that young person to come into our custody, we take
them into a youth justice facility.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
All right, we're gonna we will just rush through the
last couple of minutes because we've got the Lord Mayor
coming in next. But I do want to ask these
spit guards. Now, there's been much said about spit guards.
We know that spit hoods were indeed removed from use
within our youth correctional facilities following the Royal Commission. Spit
guards are now going to be reintroduced. Now I've got
(14:45):
one of them in front of me. It's not the
first time that I've seen one. I've spoken to the
Northern Territory Police and seen one previously. But I will
share it for our listeners in a photo so that
they've got a very good understanding of what it looks like. Now,
this is not what a spi hood used to look like.
This to me looks like a fly nest, like you
might wear if you're in somewhere like Alice Springs or
(15:06):
Mountaiser and you're dealing with the fly issues. It's fully mesh,
it's fully see through. Is this something that's required for
you guys when you are dealing with you It's within
the correctional facility.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
So, Katie, what I would share with the listeners is
our young people, when they choose to threaten our staff
and will verbally say that they will spit on our staff,
they have a tool to be able to use to
deter the young person from actually following through.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
We do have occasions.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Last financial year we had eight staff that had incidents
where they were spat on on purpose.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
That's not okay.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Nobody wants to go to work and deal with disgusting
So it doesn't mean that all young people will have
an anti spitguard applied to them if they spit at
staff or on staff, but it is a tool that
our staff will have and we hope that by working
with young people and making it clear that this is
a tool we have, it will deter them from thinking
(16:06):
that it's okay to spit on staff.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Well, Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley and Deputy Commissioner Youth Justice
and Community Correction Sasha Dennis, we are going to have
to leave it there. Really appreciate both of you joining
us this morning in the studio.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thanks Katie Aatie, thank you
We know the government's announced a new agreement between NT
Corrections and G four S to expand prisoner transport and
custody services across the Northern Territory. So it's going to
see eighty five additional G four S officers deployed over
the next six months, delivering what the Government's described as
critical support so police can spend more time in the
(00:21):
community and correction staff can focus on their core custodial roles.
Now we also know that today in Parliament there's being
changes introduced on urgency when it comes to the Youth
Justice Act, which is also going to see some changes
for the ways in which youth are dealt with in
our correctional facilities. Now joining us in the studio is
(00:42):
the Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley, Good morning to you, Good
morning Katie, and also the Deputy Commissioner and Youth Justice
and Community Corrections Sasha Dentis, Good morning to you, Good morning, Katie.
Thank you both very much for your time this morning. Now, Commissioner,
I might go across to you first. One of these
eighty five a tional G four officers going to be deployed.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
We hope to have them on the ground by the
end of the year, Katie. We have twenty as you know,
already working in Darwin as part of the local court
custody center there and of course doing metropolitan transport. This
is the next phase of that expansion. We've always said
right back at the start of the year that the
contract allowed us to order more services as we grew
(01:25):
and established the model, and that's what we've done. We
have ads out in the market at the moment for
new officers to join that service if they choose to,
and we're hoping that we'll have two training courses online
towards the back end of the year and in time
for Christmas.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay, so there's still a little while off. What roles
are they going to assist with?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
So this is a role called a Prisoner Custody and
Transport officer, Katie. That's the job description that has been
put to market. It is about providing metropolitan Darwin transfer
and transport services. We're already doing some of those now,
moving people from watch houses or our prisons to court
and back, but this will take that model to a
(02:06):
twenty four to seven basis, so we'll be able to
do it seven days a week. It will expand our
medical escort service. It will also expand our hospital will
the ability to do hospital bedsits in support of our
corrections offices to take some of that pressure off. And
then of course we've also announced a change to how
we're going to operate the Darwin City Watchhouse.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yeah, now, talk us through this because there's been a
bit of chatter around this and we saw it obviously
in the pressure release. Yes, today those G fours officers
are obviously going to manage the Darwin Transitional Custody Center.
Where is that and how's it going to work?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yep? So this is the Darwin City Watchhouse. Corrections has
been operating that for probably over two years now, Katie,
and you've heard me say many times that I don't
really want to have sentenced prisoners or prisoners in watchhouses
for a lot of reasons. Yeah, and that's why we're
building more prison capacity. But this is a model that
we we've identified and learned from Victoria where they have
(03:03):
the Melbourne Custody Center. What this will be is a
flip on the model we have now. So presently we
have corrections offices in there with fifty sentenced prisoners who
are doing cycles of time in that Darwin City Watchhouse
as an overflow from the main center. We believe a
better model and we still need those fifty beds Katie,
obviously as part of the system because we're still growing, right,
(03:24):
But we believe a better model will be for the
G four S officers to operate that facility as a
custody transfer station I suppose and people on remand who
are coming into our custody can spend some time there
until we can find them a bed at the main
prison or they are dealt with by court.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So what will that help in some way with the
situation that we're seeing at the moment at the Palmerston Watchhouse.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, it's part of the bigger plan, Katie. So we're
conscious that the watch houses are still under pressure and
we appreciate the work that police are doing there. We
know that they're working hard out in the community to
bring offenders to justice. That's their job. We've been working
hard over a year now, all year to work hard
to bring on more capacity at our facilities. We have
(04:11):
the Beremer Correctional Center. We're hoping to activate another two
hundred plus beds there by the back end of August
and we're still building, so there are more works in
the pipeline, Katie, and this is just another part of
that puzzle.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Look, the thing that springs to mind straight away for
me with the Darwin watch House is the fact that
we have had from what I can recall, at least
one escapee from there. I mean, is this facility going
to be safe to be managed by external by G
four S. I know, obviously they get sworn in or
(04:43):
certainly do the training with you guys, but is it
going to be safe for the wider community to have
that operating in our CBD right in the middle of town.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, it's a really good question and it's important one, Katie.
And so as part of that plan of transition, we
are commissioning a joint secure review again of that facility.
Now we've already done that a few times, and each
time we've had an issue in that facility, we've learned,
we've changed procedures, we've upgraded some things, and you know,
we know that watchhouses are not prisons, they're designed differently.
(05:14):
But for the purposes of this custody center, we'll be
working with our experts and G four S to undertake
another security review of that facility to make sure we've
got things right.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
How many people are going to be housey.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
We're targeting fifty kt. That's the safe operating capacity we
think of.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
That facility all right Now, in terms of the expansion
of g fours, how much is it going to cost?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, it's a good question, Katie, So I think in
total we'll be talking around ten million dollars a year
or so for the total service. Now that's already part
of the court system service and the new services that
we're bringing on now. We always said that that cost
would scale as the service grew, and that's what we're doing.
(05:56):
I'm going to be a bit approximate with that number
because not only are we working or we've worked on
salaries and things that are out in the market, but
we've got to work on training costs. We've got to
work on the costs of establishing their logistics and their
transportation and things here in Darwin. And I'm meeting with
them this afternoon to continue working with that.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Okay, Now there's further changes obviously when it comes to
the Youth Justice Act.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Now they're being overhaul.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Like basically the government said that they're introducing legislation on urgency,
overhauling the.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Youth Justice Act Now.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Some of these changes include removing detention as a last resort,
so courts no longer needing to exhaust all alternatives before
remanding a youth, stronger powers for youth justice officers, expanded
powers for the Commissioner to manage emergencies, as well as
the anti spit guards being able to be used again. Now,
Deputy Commissioner, do you anticipate obviously you oversee the youth
(06:51):
correctional facilities and youths. Do you anticipate that we're going
to see an influx of youth prisoners with the removal
of detention as a lot resorder? Are you in are
you planning that you could see increased numbers?
Speaker 3 (07:05):
So, Katie, we've done some modeling to anticipate what may occur.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
Obviously, the decision goes to the courts and it's up
to judges to decide whether young people are able to
be bailed or they are remanded while the matter proceeds.
What we have worked towards with the staff in our
youth detention centers is to ensure that we have capacity
and capability for our staff if our numbers do increase.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
How many young people have we got in detention at
the moment to cross the end today?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
We currently have fifty nine young people in detention.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Fifteen or five in our springs and there are fifty
four here in Darwin.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Now. One of the big discussion points I think over
recent days, but certainly something that we heard from the
opposition leader earlier this morning. And I know that you're
both public servants, so not expecting you to get involved
in a political discussion, but there is being so much
set at the moment about youths in youth detention, you know,
going into detention, and it means that they're coming out
(08:07):
better criminals rather than being rehabilitated. What kind of programs
are you doing while they are in detention?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Katie? What I would share with your listeners is the
youth justice.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Staff in our youth detention centers are absolutely committed to
rehabilitating young people. So when they are in detention, they
have a structured day. They are expected to go to school.
It's not optional. They will attend school from nine am
until two thirty pm, and then they participate in various
treatment programs according to their specific needs and their identified
(08:43):
crimogenic risks. We also have a large number of young
people who are able to participate in education programs that
are about pathways into employment. So when you're in detention,
it doesn't mean that you get to sit in your
cell and do nothing. You actually have very clear responsibilities
as a young person. So when you return to your
(09:04):
community as part of your reintegration, it's like returning to
what's expected of you when you're back home.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I mean, what does stuff think? And again I don't
want to get you involved in a political discussion, but
what do stuff sort of think? Then when you hear
these discussions that you know that kids go into youth
detention and that they're not doing any of those kinds
of programs. I mean, if I was working in one
of those jobs, that would probably make me feel pretty upset.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Absolutely, Katie.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
It's really disappointing when our staff have a very negative
narrative about the work that they do.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
They work with the really most.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Complex, highly difficult young people that are in the territory.
It's a very finityed population who come into our detention
centers and every day they place themselves at risk, and
there needs to be actually more of an acknowledgment of
the work that they do with those young people and
the care that they have. They turn out to work,
(10:00):
they get abuse, they get assaulted, They hear in the
media and are often disparaged about the fact that they
work with these young people. And I'm really proud to
be the Deputy Commissioner of the Youth Justice Team and
the work that we're doing to change their level of
safety and making sure that their workplace is secure.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
With the changes in the bill.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
In terms of some of these changes that are coming
on board, particularly with the spit guards, and I'll get
to that in just a moment, but our staff on
board with those changes, you know, particularly the Youth Justice officers,
are they quite keen to see some of these changes
implement it.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Last night, the Commissioner and I attended a full Youth
Justice staff meeting and we had all of the Youth
Justice staff across the territory join us online and we
were at the Holtz Youth Detention Center and we shared
all of the changes and the amendments in the bill,
and our staff were quite encouraged by the fact that
they had been listed two because these actually came from
(11:02):
our staff. This was what our staff was saying needed
to change to improve the workplace environment, but also the
safety and security of other detainees that are in detention.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And Katie, can I add to that, I think the
important thing to reinforce for the community is not one
youth Justice officer is out there looking to make youth
detention the wrong experience for the young people in the
Lord Territory. Now, what we do have to do is
make sure that the facility is safe and secure. And
you can't have rehabilitation without security and without safety. And
(11:35):
that's just safety for our staff, it's safety for the
other service providers that work in the facility, and it's
safety for the young people, you know. And this is
the piece that people miss is every day our officers
are dealing with highly charged young people who need a
rules based environment to be able to regulate their behavior
(11:55):
and go to school, go and do these programs. Understand
that there are content sequences for your actions so that
you can actually learn a better way in life. And
these reforms are all about that. And I think, you know,
safety and rehabilitation absolutely must go hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Now. I know that this morning it is being reported
by the ABC in terms of it's more, as I understand,
the watch houses. But there's been nearly twenty incidents of
self harm involving children recorded in the Northern Territory in
the watch houses. Now, am I correct to assume that
those children that are in the watch houses, they are
(12:32):
being cared for by Northern Territory police or are they
being cared for by you guys?
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, so let's be really clear, Katie, that data I
think is police data out of the system for custody
at watchhouses. It's not Youth justice Darter. That's the number one.
Secondly is, of course, we have obligations to manage young
people's health and well being, and we have established procedures
in the youth detention system for risk incidents like that.
(12:57):
We have a whole processes to how young people managed
when they display harming behavior, including medical and specialist assessments.
But you know, it's not an uncommon thing. Our staff
deal with some really complex, challenging behaviors and people who
need specialist care.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I mean, I guess the sad part, the frightening part,
the concerning part about that, whether it's in a watch
house or whether it's in the correctional facility. What people
listening this morning will be thinking, is well, it sort
of points to the need for young people to be
in the correct kind of facility rather than a watchhouse.
I mean, what would you say to that?
Speaker 4 (13:35):
What I would say, Katie, and to reassure your listeners
is when a young person does come into a watchhouse,
once they've been arrested, apprehended, and the matter goes before
the judge within an hour at a minimum, they will
be transported to a youth detention facility. If police aren't
able to transport that young person to US, youth justice
(13:58):
officers will travel to a watchouse and collect that young person,
so they do not remain in a watchhouse until they
actually go before that judge. And unfortunately, sometimes over a
weekend you need to wait until.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Two pm for the on call judge to be available.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
But as soon as we do have a warrant for
that young person to come into our custody, we take
them into a youth justice facility.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
All right, we're gonna we will just rush through the
last couple of minutes because we've got the Lord Mayor
coming in next. But I do want to ask these
spit guards. Now, there's been much said about spit guards.
We know that spit hoods were indeed removed from use
within our youth correctional facilities following the Royal Commission. Spit
guards are now going to be reintroduced. Now I've got
(14:45):
one of them in front of me. It's not the
first time that I've seen one. I've spoken to the
Northern Territory Police and seen one previously. But I will
share it for our listeners in a photo so that
they've got a very good understanding of what it looks like. Now,
this is not what a spi hood used to look like.
This to me looks like a fly nest, like you
might wear if you're in somewhere like Alice Springs or
(15:06):
Mountaiser and you're dealing with the fly issues. It's fully mesh,
it's fully see through. Is this something that's required for
you guys when you are dealing with you It's within
the correctional facility.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
So, Katie, what I would share with the listeners is
our young people, when they choose to threaten our staff
and will verbally say that they will spit on our staff,
they have a tool to be able to use to
deter the young person from actually following through.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
We do have occasions.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Last financial year we had eight staff that had incidents
where they were spat on on purpose.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
That's not okay.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Nobody wants to go to work and deal with disgusting
So it doesn't mean that all young people will have
an anti spitguard applied to them if they spit at
staff or on staff, but it is a tool that
our staff will have and we hope that by working
with young people and making it clear that this is
a tool we have, it will deter them from thinking
(16:06):
that it's okay to spit on staff.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Well, Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley and Deputy Commissioner Youth Justice
and Community Correction Sasha Dennis, we are going to have
to leave it there. Really appreciate both of you joining
us this morning in the studio.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
Thanks Katie Aatie, thank you
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