Why does Australia have detention Centres?

History of mandatory detention. Mandatory detention was introduced to “support the integrity of Australia’s immigration program” and “management of Australian borders” and to distinguish between those who have submitted themselves to offshore entry processes prior to arrival and those who have not.

What happens in detention Centres in Australia?

Immigration detention centres detain people who have overstayed their visa, breached their visa conditions and had their visa cancelled or have been refused entry at Australia’s entry ports. This includes irregular maritime arrivals claiming asylum without passports, identity papers or valid entry visas.

How many children are in Australian detention Centres?

In March 2014 there were 584 children in detention centres on mainland Australia and 305 children detained on Christmas Island. A further 179 children were detained on Nauru….4.12 Children with disabilities.

Age of child	Nature of mental health disorder	Months in detention at July 2014
15	Depressive disorder	11

What is the purpose of detention Centres?

It seems clear however, that the purpose of a detention centre is to provide an environment for young people who are sentenced or on remand, which is safe and secure but which also satisfies certain standards.

What is it like in a detention Centre?

The environment is heavily marked. All the detainees speak of the centre like of a prison. There is a lot of guards. The environment is similar to the one of a prison: barbed wire, videocameras, and sanction measures that may entail being locked in an isolation cell.

What are the conditions of detention Centres?

Australia’s detention policies require anyone who is not an Australian citizen and does not have a valid visa to be detained. Their detention continues until they are granted a visa or leave the country. This policy of ‘mandatory detention’ was introduced in 1992, in response to people from Cambodia coming by boat.