Five years after the death of Daniel Culleton while in police custody, his family is entangled in a complex legal process that has seen them waiting for compensation from the Victorian government. Following the tragic loss, the family expected a straightforward path to justice and reparations; however, they encountered a convoluted system that requires navigating independent medical panels meant to assess psychological or physical injuries. This review process has been criticized for its excessive delays, with referrals taking an average of 10 months, often extending the trauma experienced by the affected family members even further.

The independent medical panels assess whether individuals who have lost family members in custody can claim compensation due to their injuries. Critics argue that the government is intentionally prolonging these processes to reduce its financial liability, essentially putting up barriers that delay the payment of rightful compensation. This has resulted in heightened emotional distress for families like Culleton's, as they relive their trauma while trying to prove the extent of their suffering to an impersonal panel.

As more families, including some with children, are referred to these panels, the overarching sentiment is one of frustration and hopelessness. The Culleton family's ongoing struggle underscores broader systemic issues related to deaths in custody in Australia, prompting a critical examination of how the legal system handles such cases and the societal responsibility to ensure justice and compensation for victims' families. This situation calls for urgent reforms to protect grieving families from further distress and to expedite the compensation process for those who have suffered due to the state’s actions.