Media Release
Wednesday 26th September 2001
Deaths In Custody Remembrance Ceremony - John Pat Day
This Friday 28th September is the anniversary of the death of 16 yr old
John Pat.
John Pat was a young Yinjibarndi man who died of closed head injuries, in a
police cell in Roebourne, Western Australia (WA) on the night of 28
September 1983. It was his death that was instrumental in bringing about a
groundswell of demand for action to address, in general, Aboriginal
custodial issues, and in particular - DEATHS IN CUSTODY.
The Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths In Custody (RCIADIC)
established that John Pat had been assaulted by police in the police yard
following his arrest. He was then placed in an unconscious or semi-
comatose state in a cell and allegedly left there until his body was
discovered during a cell check.
Each year on the anniversary of his death, at 1100am, we remember all
people who have died in custody at the John Pat Memorial - adjacent to old
Fremantle Prison.
The RCIADIC was established on the 16th October 1987 and published its
findings in April 1991 making 339 recommendations. Those 339
recommendations highlighted key areas of reform urgently required,
particularly within the criminal justice system. Reforms which, if
achieved, would not only reduce Aboriginal deaths in custody but would also
significantly reduce the rate at which Aboriginal people were being
incarcerated in this country.
Over a decade on, and across all governments of all political persuasions;
Western Australia continues to have the highest rates of Aboriginal
imprisonment, the highest rate of Aboriginal juvenile detention and the
highest rates of deaths in custody - IN THE NATION!
In other words nothing has changed!
"This is a damning indictment of WA Governments, instrumentalities, and
their employees and elected representatives" said Kath Mallott, the
Executive Officer of the Watch Committee, when she announced details of
this year's Deaths In Custody Remembrance Ceremony.
All concerned people are invited to attend:
Where: Deaths In Custody Memorial at Fremantle Prison
When: 11.00am on Friday 28th September 2001
Media Contact:
Kath Mallott Executive Officer 08 9227-5751 041993-0375
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