A Victorian ombudsman report, tabled in parliament on Thursday, has revealed a 16-year-old boy was held in conditions akin to solitary confinement in an adult prison. The report found the Department of Justice and Community Safety breached the teen's human rights when he was transferred from the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct to the maximum-security Melbourne Assessment Prison in early 2025.
The teen was transferred after attacking staff, following two warnings about his violent behaviour. Upon arrival at the adult prison, he was separated due to his age, spending an average of more than 22 hours in his cell daily for six weeks. Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath stated these conditions "bordered on solitary confinement."
The report described the cell as "cramped and worn," with the boy reporting he could not see out of the window. He also stated he had no in-person family visits for six weeks and suffered "dark, dark thoughts," including self-harm and suicidal ideation, due to the experience.
Under Victorian law, a child aged 15 or older can be transferred to an adult prison as a last resort. However, the ombudsman concluded that proper consideration was not given to the child’s human rights during the transfer application. The report made eight recommendations, including a ban on transferring children to adult prisons, which the government rejected.