OCA trying to determining why children turn to crime

The Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA) has embarked on what it says will be an extensive study on child offenders in Jamaica.

It will, among other things, assess the background and profiles of children in lock ups and state run institutions.

Mary Clarke, Children's Advocate, says the study is to be undertaken by a two member team of consultants from Texas and North Carolina.

She says the study is expected to go a far way in identifying the root causes why children take on a life of crime and will also provide possible prevention methods.

“We are saying that we really do not know who these children are who are coming in to conflict with the law. We do not know enough about their background, their education achievements and the problems that they have faced.

“We do not know enough about how our institutions and systems that we may have in place for our children have treated these children … we do not know how these have positively or negatively impacted them,” Mrs. Clarke said.