DISABILITY ROYAL COMMISSION LOOKS AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Last week, a Noongar woman gave evidence to the Disability Royal Commission on how people with disabilities are treated in the criminal justice system.

National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project Director Megan Krakouer told the Commission that 12 of the 18 children transferred from Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre to Unit 18 of Casuarina adult prison had disabilities.

“Out at Unit 18, there have been a number of self-harms, and some of the children do have disabilities, which are diagnosed,” she said.

“We don’t even have an occupational health therapist in Unit 18. So that means these children aren’t getting the support and services that they need.”

Ms Krakouer recommended real-time data on self harm incidents in youth detention settings become publicly available.

“We can’t wait for the Inspector of Custodial report, which comes out every two or three years,” she said.

“There needs to be real-time data which is available to the community, so people can help, support and understand the true context in its entirety of what is happening in prison settings.”

The Royal Commission will hand down its final report next year.

Listen to Ms Krakouer speak to Ngaarda Media’s Marion Cheedy on the Ngaardawilla Hour.