Cleveland Dodd’s family hope inquest will bring change
Key points:
- Cleveland Dodd, a 16-year-old Indigenous boy, died by self-harm while in youth detention at a high-security prison.
- His family is calling for a justice system overhaul.
- An inquest is underway to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
The heartbroken family of Cleveland Dodd, the first young person to die in youth detention in WA, hope an inquest will lead to an overhaul of the justice system.
Cleveland, 16, was found unresponsive after harming himself inside his cell in a troubled youth wing of a high-security adult prison in the early hours of October 12, 2023.
The Indigenous teen was taken to hospital in a critical condition where he later died, causing outrage and grief in the community.
His mother, Nadene Dodd, told media at a pre-inquest press conference on Tuesday that her family was “still reeling from the loss of my son”.
“The months since Cleveland’s passing have been fraught with grief,” she said in a statement read by lawyer Dana Levitt.
“With each new detail that comes to light about the night he died or about Unit 18 generally, I become more determined to get justice for Cleveland, and for all the other boys sent there.
“Children do not belong in adult prisons.”
Ms Dodd said the Department of Justice should have kept her son safe and “not let him die on their watch”.
“My boy’s cries for help fell on deaf ears.”
The first part of an expedited coronial inquest in Perth into Cleveland’s death starts on Wednesday and runs until April 12.
It is understood Coroner Phil Urquhart will close the court after the opening statement so that the lawyers involved in the inquest and some of Cleveland’s family can view Casuarina Prison CCTV footage from the night the teen self-harmed.
Witnesses who worked at Unit 18, including three youth custodial officers, a nurse and a manager each have a full day set aside for their evidence.
“I’m hopeful that Cleveland’s death is the catalyst for an overhaul of youth justice in Western Australia,” Ms Dodd said.
“The system, like my heart, is broken.”
Cleveland’s family on Tuesday will lead a march of about 70 people through Perth to the Department of Justice head office, where Ms Dodd and other speakers are expected to address a rally.
Ms Levitt, who is representing Cleveland’s family at the inquest, wants the inquest to bring “real and lasting” change to the youth justice system.
She said the justice department should “reassess what it’s doing, how it’s doing it, and whether it’s of any benefit to anyone”.
“We’re not setting up young people to do anything other than self-harm in prison,” she said.
“That’s the way the system is working at the moment.
“Children rarely come out better than they went in and for the most part they come out worse.”
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