Wrong prison for boys

Reportedly, they thought the small fire in the courtyard was going out when they left and presumably, they were 15 and 16 at the time.

Notwithstanding that the consequences were devastating to the school buildings, which led to criminal charges, teenagers must not be sent to Hakea Prison for adults.

WA’s Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Children’s Court President have both criticised decisions to move children to that prison.

After WA Prison Inspector Neil Morgan expressed grave concerns about how young prisoners were being treated, a human rights lawyer launched legal action through the Supreme Court against the State’s Corrective Services Minister and the Corrective Services Commission, alleging the housing of young offenders in segregated units at Hakea breaches the State’s Young Offenders Act.