OCA to study profiles of children in lock-ups
BY NADINE WILSON Observer staff reporter wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
WITH more than 800 children arrested between 2008-2009 for serious crimes, the Office of the Children's Advocate will be conducting a study over the next three months to assess the backgrounds of juveniles behind bars.
The study, which is expected to cost $1 million and will be conducted by the United States-based Juvenile Justice Department, will assist the Office in making recommendations and developing strategies to better address the needs of children.
"We want to prevent children from coming into the system. And if we are going to prevent them from coming into the system, then we need to understand a little bit more about those who are in the system," Children's Advocate Mary Clarke told journalists at a press briefing at her office in downtown Kingston yesterday.
"We do not know enough about their background, their educational achievement, the problems they have faced. We do not know enough about how our institutions have treated these children and our systems that have been put in place for the good of our children," she added.
A total of 76 children, whose ages range from 14 to 17, were arrested for murder between 2008-2009. More than 100 children, some as young as 12 years old, were charged for rape and another 155 were charged for robbery during the two-year period. Over 400 male and female child offenders are still serving time behind bars.
"Children really should not be in lock-ups. If you visit a lock-up, you'll understand our passion to get children out of lock-ups," Clarke said.
The children's advocate said two consultants from the Juvenile Justice Department will interview children in the correctional services as well as their parents. The international organisation, Clarke said, is putting up the bulk of the funds for the study, which has been dubbed, 'A Profile on Children in Conflict With The Law'.
Clarke said the Ministry of National Security and the Department of Correctional Services have already expressed their willingness to co-operate with the group "in the best interest of the children in Jamaica".
 
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7/13/2010
Goog point Jaye. Then again where are the parents of these children? Despite what others say, I am a firm believer in the policy that parents play a great role in the behavior of children. Yuh think I as an adult could have my 14yo son walking in my house at 5am claiming he is coming from a 'session'.? Yuh mad!
7/13/2010
The media won't ride it because it doesn't sell newsprint, so it will return to the starting gate.
Juveniles behind bars are like mosquito larvae breeding in stagnant water; someday when full-grown, they will become a menace.
7/13/2010
The issue presented here should not be taken lightly and I hope the media rides this issue like a well trained jockey. It should not be allowed to slip out of the public's eye.
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