JFJ contemplates legal action in support of children unjustly placed in correctional facilities

Human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is contemplating pursuing legal action, in the wake of revelations that children are being locked up in correctional facilities or remand centres for displaying behavioural problems even though they have not committed a crime.

Executive Director of JFJ Rodje Malcolm said on Monday that every effort will be made to ensure that the rights of these children are upheld.

The issue was raised in a Sunday Gleaner article which featured interviews with persons reporting that children were being held in correctional facilities after being deemed uncontrollable by a Family Court judge.

In an interview with RJR News, Mr Malcolm stated that, arising from the newspaper report, JFJ has begun to probe the issue, “with the individual clients and families that have retained our services.”

He added that “all options are available to secure the rights and welfare of the children, including legal options.”

Speedy reform of the relevant statutes was the preferred route, he said, stressed that, in the absence of such intervention by the authorities, if legal action is required, “the organization would have to explore those options and take the action that is required.”

Pro bono service

He disclosed that JFJ will provide, through its Redress and Legal Services division, pro bono legal services to "children in the justice system who need it, as a way to augment what presently exists."

He noted that the principal agencies which currently provide such legal services to children in such circumstances are the Office of the Children's Advocate and the Legal Aid Council.

"Those offices do tremendous with very little, and it's given that very little that they have that we are willing to dedicate resources at JFJ, since we do have a full service legal department and a network of attorneys willing to assist on a pro bono basis..." he said.