Four Corners: July 25

On Monday Four Corners Caro Meldrum-Hanna reveals the truth about the treatment of children in detention, in a report “that will shock Australia.”

It almost defies belief but right here in Australia there is a prison system that locks up 10 year olds and places children as young as thirteen in solitary confinement.

“This is barbarism, this is inhumane, this is child abuse.” – Lawyer

Children have been confined to an isolation wing with no access to sunlight or running water.

“Those cells were ghoulish, they were something medieval.” – Lawyer

Some held for weeks on end, deprived of basic necessities.

“We all sort of looked at each other in shock … there were signs of life in there but we didn’t know who was in there or what was happening, or how long they’d been there.” – Lawyer

Deprived of hope.

“What’s going on with children in detention here is a deliberate, punitive, cruel policy.”- Lawyer

On Monday night Four Corners reveals the shocking truth about the treatment of children behind bars, where young offenders have been stripped naked, assaulted and tear gassed.

“They had absolutely nowhere to run…Those children were afraid for their lives.” – Children’s Advocate

Held by a system that seems bent on breaking children instead of reforming them.

“If I treated my children like that, the authorities would take my children from me quite properly because I would be behaving cruelly to them.” Lawyer

Reported by Gold Walkley award-winning reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna.

This confronting investigation will send shockwaves around Australia.

Monday 25th July at 8.30pm on ABC.