God Help the Kids

[tommy.irene]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/video-emerges-of-torture-of-child-prisoners-in-aus...

[electric*mayhem*band]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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What has sympathy for the kid (and it wasn't just one kid) got to do with it?  We are talking about the behaviour of the adults. 

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The question regarding the programme - which is what I was talking about - was the brat in question. No mention of of the warders was made, nor any given. And the question put to the phone-in contributors was 'Should there be a more softly-softly approach to these street hardened youths'.

Before you leap in with your pearl-clutching attacks, do please count to ten.

[debra9275]

Emb did you see the whole film.?  It's all everyone's talking about here, in the press and on social media. Lots of calls for the relevant ministers to be stood down. Lots of anger too

[chameleon54]

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@debra9275 wrote:

A lot of those kids were actually on remand.. And if a kid steals a car, they don't deserve to be abused like that

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I would hope that the treatment these kids where receiving was not for stealing cars.

There are some very legitimate reasons why these offenders may need to be restrained or subjected to capsicum type sprays. If the offenders are attempting to attack officers, spit on them constantly, are off their tree on drugs or highly aggressive due to mental health problems, these restraint methods could be justified.

One scenario that has not been mentioned is that of detainees threatening suicide or self harm. With the very high rates of indigenous deaths in custody, a highly agitated offender may need to be stripped of personal clothing and extensively restrained for their own safety.

Currently juveniles in the community with mental health problems who are at risk of self harm are often physically and chemically restrained. If they are sectioned under the mental health act and need to be transported to hospital their wrists, ankles and waists will be strapped to the guerney and hospital bed until the patient has been properly assessed. . 

Managing uncontrollable and often very strong young men is a highly dangerous business that can require some fairly extreme measures at times.

It is very easy for the armchair experts to be critical of the methods used. The real world is a lot different to how the indignant audience of Q & A present it. I would like to see how some of these critics would respond if they had 24 hours locked in a cell with a couple of these offenders. I suspect they may be a little more understanding of some of the methods currently being discussed.

[electric*mayhem*band]

No Debs, I haven't see any film over here, and as far as I'm aware there isn't any footage of this incident by any TV outlet. Not even on any news bulletins. It was only reported in (some) papers, and discussed on a Matthew Wright's talk show this morning, which is what I was referring to, before the writer of short stories bounced in. That's the only thing I have to go on.

[debra9275]

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I would hope that the treatment these kids where receiving was not for stealing cars.

perhaps you should watch it again chameleon or read up on what the kids actual offences were

[electric*mayhem*band]

BTW, should have said that the clips in the link are not opening for me. They come up as 'Limited Access - 404' 

[debra9275]

emb last night we listened to ABC radio here in Aus. and lots of pe[ple were ringing in talking about it.. what surprised me though that it was mostly men who called in.. and a lot of therm were working in the prison system or were ex prison wardens.. one was originally from the NT.. they were all very emotional about it.. some even broke down.. those kids didn't even have any water except for what was in their toilet bowls 

I believe the film was on FB but removed due to nudity scenes as  a few times one of the boys was attacked by the guards  who stripped his clothing off leaving him naked

[tommy.irene]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kACOj69yQpc      ..  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbW23PHg8Fs

[chameleon54]

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@debra9275 wrote:

emb last night we listened to ABC radio here in Aus. and lots of pe[ple were ringing in talking about it.. what surprised me though that it was mostly men who called in.. and a lot of therm were working in the prison system or were ex prison wardens.. one was originally from the NT.. they were all very emotional about it.. some even broke down.. those kids didn't even have any water except for what was in their toilet bowls 

I believe the film was on FB but removed due to nudity scenes as  a few times one of the boys was attacked by the guards  who stripped his clothing off leaving him naked

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He was forcibly stripped of personal clothing and left naked in his cell with a safety gown. He was shown to be in a highly distressed state.

This was done in response to his threats of self harm and suicide. With the very high rates of indigenous deaths in custody, it could be argued the guards response was appropriate and necessary and may have actually saved his life. While they restrained him in a strong, forceful manner while stripping him, I don't believe the force was personal, vindictive or excessive. The officers ran from the cell when they released Dylan, obviously worried for their own safety.

Yes it was confronting, Yes we all wish young people where never distressed or suicidal. But in the real world, it happens. Especially with young people who are the victims of predjudice and have a long history of social dysfunction, drug use, possible feotal alcohol syndrome and criminal behaviour.

[debra9275]

What I saw was a kid standing against a wall playing with a pack of cards, then 3 big men came in grabbed him with force stripped him and sat on him..  He didn't for one second  look threatening  or resist.  as they shut the door on their way out, one of them dropped a white towel or something  on the floor. The kid was then seen pacing the room.

did you have a look to find out why the kids were in there?