YOUTH offenders serving a sentence in secure accommodation will have the prospect of early release for good conduct.
The change, which comes into force this weekend, will make young offenders in the Island’s secure accommodation facility at Greenfields subject to the same terms as those detained in a young offender institution or HMP La Moye.
Young offenders detained at Greenfields are currently required to serve their full term and be released back into the community without any transition.
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 be permitted once the changes come into force from Saturday 1 August.
The law changes were unanimously approved in January by the previous States Assembly.
Former Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said the changes were aimed at “addressing an identified gap” in the law.
