Juvenile offenders who enter the justice system will now be kept at a $37.6 million holding centre, which was formally opened yesterday afternoon.
The Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre was declared open by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee. It is the first facility of its kind locally and is located in the compound of the Sophia Training School.
This facility has become operational more than two years after the legislative framework was tabled and approved in parliament for its establishment. Rohee explained that there has been a need for a juvenile holding centre for some time and before it could be satisfied it was necessary that the Juvenile Offenders Act be amended.
The Juvenile Offenders Amendment Act, passed over