First a strip-search goes too far, then a boy is isolated in a cell … the former detainees who tell all-too-similar stories

Key points

• Former youth detainees across Australia describe alleged sexual abuse, often beginning with invasive strip-searches and isolation in cells. Psychiatrist Sivasankaran Balaratnasingam says most reported abuse involves guards and custodial officers, often at night.
• Dozens of people have joined a class action alleging abuse at Melbourne's Parkville youth justice centre, with allegations dating back 50 years.
• Many survivors are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and advocates say the legal process is slow and adds to their trauma.