Dylan Voller
Dylan Voller is a man who came to public attention after his mistreatment while in youth detention in the Northern Territory was documented on a July 2016 episode of the ABC TV program Four Corners.[1]
Early life
As of 2016, Voller had been in and out of juvenile detention since he was 11 years old, for car theft, robbery and assault.[2] He spent time at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre in Darwin,[2] Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre[3] and, aged 17, at Alice Springs adult prison. During that time he was allegedly restrained by the neck physically thrown into his cell, isolated, stripped naked and tear gassed.[2]
Royal Commission
Footage of Voller shackled to a restraining chair within the adult Alice Springs correctional center was featured on the ABC TV program Four Corners' episode "Australia's Shame" in July 2016.[4] It caused widespread outrage and prompted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to announce a royal commission into the treatment of youth in the child protection and youth detention systems in the Northern Territory.[5] Mistreatment in youth detention had been widely reported prior to the Four Corners report.[6][7][8]
He has publicly apologised for his crimes.[1]
Voller gave limited evidence at the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory in December 2016.[9]
He was released from prison in February 2017[10] and has been advocating for improved conditions for youth in detention.[11]
In 2017 it was discovered that Voller's confidential files were dumped at the Alice Springs rubbish tip.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Four Corners: Dylan Voller releases letter apologising for crimes, thanking community for support". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Dylan Voller: Timeline of teenager's mistreatment in NT youth detention". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Doran, political reporters Matthew; Stephanie; erson (28 July 2016). "Possible human rights breaches to be in NT royal commission's sights". ABC News. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ^ Meldrum-Hanna, Caro; Fallon, Mary; Worthington, Elise (26 July 2016). "AUSTRALIA'S SHAME". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Four Corners. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Karp, Paul (26 July 2016). "Malcolm Turnbull announces royal commission into Northern Territory detention". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Wild, Kate (27 July 2016). "The NT has known about mistreatment of juveniles for years. So why has nothing happened?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Wild, Kate. "Cable ties, restraint chairs to be used on children in custody if new NT laws pass". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Wild, Kate (13 November 2015). "NT prisons 'aren't necessarily pleasant places', Minister says, as human rights lawyer condemns hooding of 17yo detainee". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Vanovac, Neda (12 December 2016). "Dylan Voller gives evidence before NT royal commission, says he felt like he was 'going to die'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Bardon, Jane (2 February 2017). "Dylan Voller, former Don Dale youth detainee, granted early release from prison". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Aikman, Amos (13 March 2017). "Dylan Voller leads protest at juvenile justice royal commission". The Australian. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ Sinclair, Corey (5 July 2017). "Dylan Voller angry after confidential files dumped at Alice Springs tip shop". NT News. Retrieved 7 July 2017.