RCC proposes reformative approach to juvenile detention

… separation of juvenile offenders

In an effort to assure the reintegration and safety of juvenile offenders detained at correctional centres across Guyana, the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) has presented a list of recommendations regarding the enhancement of facilitates

and curriculum of the two main institutions.

This was announcement during a recent press conference hosted by RCC, where representatives expressed a series of concerns in relations to the conditions under which young offenders are being detained at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast and the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre in Georgetown.

The Chief Executive Office, Amernauth Panday, noted that since 2015, the RCC has been engaging with the residents housed at these institutions. During their visits to both of the centres, defects in the facilities and shortcomings in their operations are continuously discovered.

As such, Panday noted that the RCC has been making several recommendations to Government.

“We have made recommendations with regards to the upgrading of the physical structure. We felt that it is not child-friendly and that the Ministry must move to make that facility more child-friendly,” posited Panday.

He noted that while the Public Security Ministry was in the process of

complementing measures aimed at improving the overall facilities, these enhancements are yet to materialise. Apart from renovations to the structure, these upgrades would have included the installation of recreational facilities, such as sports courts.

However, adding to the much need upgrades to the physical structure of the NOC and Sophia Centre, Panday further highlighted that the administrations need to revisit the curriculum of these institutions. This is so as to ensure that the youths are exposed to the necessary capacity building for the reformation and reintegration as productive members of society.

The CEO stated that, “It is no secret that we have made the recommendation that NOC’s curriculum needs to be widened to make the stay of a child more reforming as against punitive.”

As such, the RCC is advocating for the introduction of courses in art, music among other programmes so as to increase the impact of time spent at these correctional centres. Meanwhile, in addressing the matter of safety within the institutions, the Commission pointed out a need for separation among the residents, especially as

it relates to isolating the more serious offenders.

“We have recommended that some measures of distinction or separation should be instituted so that persons who are charged for more serious offences, for example murder, should not be kept in the same location as a child that is charged for wandering,” conveyed Panday. The reiteration of these petitions came just days after three juveniles escaped from custody while serving time at the NOC as well as weeks after an incident in which residents set fire to a mattress at the holding centre in Sophia. At the same time, the recommendations are in accordance with the emergence of a Juvenile Justice Bill in Guyana which is yet to be tabled in the National Assembly.