in-cyprus 15 December 2023
The Ministry of Justice is preparing a draft law allowing for the establishment of a detention centre for juveniles, operated by private interests, according to Phileleftheros.
Currently no juvenile convicts are being held in the Central Prisons. However, three individuals under the age of 18 are detained pending trial for violating immigration laws, as revealed by information obtained by Phileleftheros.
One of the minors had been in prison since September 14, 2021, prior to the enactment of the new law prohibiting the imprisonment of minors in Central Prisons.
Presently, there are 10 foreign inmates aged between 18 and 21, along with three women of the same age group – two foreigners and one Cypriot.
The Ministry of Justice is preparing a draft law, expected to be presented to the Parliament after the holidays, allowing the detention of minors within Central Prisons in a separate facility from adult inmates.
This measure serves as a temporary solution until a dedicated juvenile detention centre is established between Nicosia and Larnaca.
The decision to use prison facilities for minors comes after a court ruling in Larnaca left an underage individual, found guilty of serious sexual offenses, unpunished due to a lack of space for detention upon conviction.
The Ministry of Justice aims to address this gap by establishing a facility within the prisons, operated privately.
Security will be managed by prison guards, ensuring a limited capacity of 15-20 individuals, given the relatively low number of cases involving convicted minors.
Simultaneously, the recruitment of caretakers is underway, acting as the liaison between the court, police, and minors.
These caretakers, whether social workers, lawyers, or professionals in related fields, will be trained to fulfil the legal requirements, overseeing progress, resolving issues, and preparing reports in accordance with legislation.
