Work Under Way to Establish Juvenile Treatment Centre and Long-Term Care Facility, Says Minister

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said work is under way to establish a juvenile residential treatment centre and a long-term care facility as part of efforts to strengthen the juvenile justice system.

Speaking at a press briefing held today, the minister said only one of the five institutions required under the Juvenile Justice Act, passed in 2019, had been established before the current administration took office. He said the Act mandates the establishment of a juvenile detention centre, which was established during the previous government, a long-term secure facility for offenders whose trials are prolonged, a residential treatment centre, a halfway house, and a long-term care facility for juveniles involved in extended legal proceedings. 

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He said that over the past two years, the current government has already established two of these facilities: the halfway house and the juvenile residential treatment centre. Work is continuing on the remaining institutions to ensure a comprehensive framework for juvenile rehabilitation and care, the minister said. 

According to the minister, the Department of Juvenile Justice has provided intervention services to 220 juvenile offenders. In addition, 162 juveniles assessed as being at high risk of engaging in criminal activity are currently receiving preventive services designed to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

During the same briefing, the minister also highlighted law enforcement efforts against narcotics, stating that authorities have seized 1.1 tonnes of drugs over the past two years, with an estimated street value of MVR 2.2 billion.