CHANGES to the law around the detention of children and young people in the Island’s secure accommodation facility at Greenfields have been approved by the States Assembly.
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat proposed the amendment to existing law which would mean children and young people serving youth detention in secure accommodation will be allowed temporary or early release and supervision.
Deputy Le Hegarat said the change would make youth offenders in secure accommodation subject to the same terms as those detained in a young offender institution or HMP La Moye.
Young offenders detained at Greenfields were currently required to serve their full term and be released back into the community without any transition, she added, whereas the change would allow release after two-thirds of a sentence had been served, with subsequent supervision – the same arrangements as currently apply for adult prisoners, or those young offenders housed at the prison.
Temporary release for education purposes and family events will also permitted once the changes come into law.
Children’s Minister Richard Vibert expressed “strong support” for the proposed change.
“At the heart of this is a single truth,” he said. “A child in custody is still a child, and should remain entitled to care, protection, education and family life.”
Deputy Catherine Curtis, chair of Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny, said her panel was also supportive of the move.
Following a short debate, the law changes were supported unanimously by States Members during a series of votes.
