LEGISLATION that means children can be remanded in custody at Jersey’s adult prison could be removed, according to the newly-published Youth Justice Roadmap.
The document, which outlines the government’s intended “children-first” approach to youth justice, was released this week.
Its publication comes just over a month since the JEP revealed that children were being held at the Island’s prison.
At the time, Children’s Minister Richard Vibert and Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said that a “suitable” part of the prison had been designated as a young offenders institution under Article 27 of the Prison (Jersey) law 1957, “in order to meet young people’s needs at this time”.
Article 27 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”.
But the newly-published strategy, which outlines a number of actions to enable a “restorative” youth justice system, states that: “We will consider the removal of provision within law that children can be remanded in custody at the States of Jersey Prison (La Moye).”
Speaking to the JEP, Mr Vibert noted a historic shortfall in “early intervention”, which is a key theme within the Youth Justice Roadmap.
“Very sadly, that has led to children in their mid and late teens, already being in the criminal justice system, already having been involved in criminal activity,” he added.
