The provisions for detaining persons under 18 years of age in special facilities in Cyprus are almost ready for approval, Philenews reported on Monday.
Currently, juvenile offenders are detained in the Central Prison in Nicosia together with adults – In full violation of the Children in Conflict With The Law Act, passed in 2021.
Head of the sub-directorate for handling cases of vulnerable persons, Kyriaki Lambrianidou, also said that the specifications on how juvenile prisons will operate have been prepared.
Along with the regulations behind hiring bailiffs who will oversee whether all the rights of children in conflict with the law are respected.
Last year, Police were confronted with a total of 508 cases of minors – aged 14 to 18 – violating the law.
Individuals under the age of 13 are not criminally liable, while people over 18 can be sent to court.
Persons aged 16 to 21 will be admitted to juvenile prisons, provided that they were under 18 when they committed the offence.
The establishment of juvenile prisons has been on the state’s agenda for over a decade.
There have been several discussions on the issue but remained stagnant till the Child-Friendly Justice Act was passed a couple of years ago.
This paved the way for the establishment of juvenile detention facilities.
