CHILDREN are being held in the Island’s adult prison, the JEP can reveal – reigniting concerns over how Jersey supports some of its “most vulnerable” Islanders.
Children’s Commissioner Carmel Corrigan has described the situation as “very disappointing” and urged ministers to find “a long-term solution”.
She made the comments after the government confirmed that a “suitable” area of La Moye was being used “in order to meet young people’s needs at this time”.
The information was provided in response to questions from this newspaper, which asked whether several young Islanders had been moved to the prison from Greenfields, the secure facility that houses some of the Island’s most vulnerable children.
The JEP understands that an area of the Greenfields facility was damaged earlier this year.
In a joint statement, Children’s Minister Richard Vibert and Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said: “A suitable part of HMP La Moye has been designated as a young offenders institution by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, under Article 27 of the Prison (Jersey) law 1957 in order to meet young people’s needs at this time.
“We are not able to comment further on individual young people’s circumstances.”
Article 27 of the Prison (Jersey) law 1957 states that the Home Affairs Minister “may provide young offender institutions where offenders aged not less than 15 years but under 21 years, sentenced to youth detention may be detained in conditions suitable to persons of their ages and descriptions”.
It is not the first time that concerns about young Islanders being placed in the prison have been raised.
In 2022, news that a child was being held at La Moye due to a lack of alternative options faced criticism from Jersey Cares, which described the situation as “deeply alarming”.
Ms Corrigan said the Island now had three children in its adult prison, describing the situation as “very disappointing”.
She said: “Designating an area of HMP La Moye as a young offenders institution is not the same as having a purpose-built facility to securely accommodate children, which takes into consideration their age and stage of development and adequately meets their particular needs.”
She added that she appreciated ministers were “having to work with what they currently have” but highlighted that “this is neither a new nor an unpredictable situation”.
“Detention of children should be an absolute last resort, but the placement of children in the adult prison will inevitably arise again if the relevant law, policy and practice remains unchanged,” the commissioner continued.
“Therefore, a long-term solution must be found, which is compatible with the children’s rights and Jersey’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that sees children as children first.
“It is also part of our own collective commitment, as a community, to value and protect our children, whatever their circumstances might be.”
Advocate Darry Robinson, who specialises in child protection cases, also expressed concern.
He said: “Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, but there is presently political and public acceptance of their imprisonment.”
He noted that “for all its faults, Greenfields is resourced to accommodate children and the staff are well motivated and have a child-centred focus”.
