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Bunting reveals initiatives to remove juveniles from adult centres

Peter Bunting, Minister of National Security, has responded to questions raised by human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), regarding the location of female juveniles who were removed from the Horizon Adult Remand Centre.

The Ministry last Friday revealed that the last set of girls had been transferred from the facility. This was part of an overall plan to eliminate the number of juveniles in adult lock ups or correctional centres. JFJ had demanded answers from the Ministry on where the girls had been placed.   

Mr. Bunting has revealed that the reduction is the result of two initiatives.

“A very deliberate child diversion policy has implemented where those juveniles who are sent on correctional orders, who have not really committed a crime…we are working with the Ministry of Justice and the ministry of Youth and Culture - focused on doing the work upstream - so that the court don’t end up sending juveniles who do not absolutely need to be in correctional facilities to correctional facilities,” said Mr. Bunting. 

The other initiative includes using the resources of the Child Development Agency. Minister Bunting was speaking on RJR’s Beyond The Headlines on Tuesday

Meanwhile, Mr. Bunting has given a deadline of year-end for the removal of the Horizon Adult Remand Centre from the list of facilities that are authorised to house juveniles.



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