Public Defender expresses concern for children in custody without legal representation

Public Defender, Arlene Harrison-Henry, has expressed concern that 66 children currently in custody for non-criminal offences have not been provided with legal representation. She says the children are being held for uncontrollable behaviour.

Speaking today on Radio Jamaica's call in programme Hotline, the Public Defender said the Department of Correctional Services could not provide information on who represented the children. She wants a review of the cases.

“The information that we have received is that DCS is not able to tell us the name of the legal representative for each child. It is our experience that the majority of them go before the courts without legal representation,” she argued.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Defender Herbert McKenzie says the case involving the 66 children is another example of a breakdown in the system.