Government Enacts New Regulation for Juvenile Correctional Centres
Crime scene tape | Photo: Envato
The Government of the Maldives has published the Juvenile Correctional Centres Regulation, aimed at strengthening the management, operation, and standards of care in facilities housing children sentenced for juvenile crimes. The regulation was issued per Article 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act and comes into immediate effect upon publication in the Government Gazette.
The newly introduced regulation outlines key objectives, including the establishment of clear operational and management standards, the provision of essential information to caretakers, and the protection of the rights of juveniles housed in such facilities.
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The Maldives Correctional Service has been appointed as the implementing body for this regulation. Under the new framework, two categories of juvenile correctional centres are defined:
- Juvenile Detention Centres – for children serving long-term sentences handed down by the courts, excluding those convicted of serious crimes.
- Long-Term Secure Facilities – for juveniles convicted of serious criminal offences or those who require care in isolation from society for their own or others’ safety.
To ensure age-appropriate care and legal compliance, the regulation mandates that juvenile correctional facilities must be separate from adult detention centres and must be tailored to suit the developmental needs and rehabilitation goals of the juveniles held there. Furthermore, such centres can only be operated under a special permit issued by the relevant ministry.
The regulation is structured into several chapters addressing various aspects of juvenile detention, including:
- The establishment and operational procedures of correctional centres
- Admission procedures for children brought to the centres
- Rules and conduct within the facilities
- Medical care and treatment
- Disciplinary guidelines
- Safety, security, and peacekeeping standards
- Rehabilitation and treatment programmes
- And other supporting provisions
The introduction of this regulation marks a step towards aligning the juvenile justice system in the Maldives with international best practices, ensuring that children in correctional care are treated with dignity and afforded the rights necessary for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
