(Jamaica Gleaner) – Some 14 police stations across the island are to be retrofitted to house juveniles once they are taken into police custody.
The announcement was made this morning during an inter-ministerial press conference on children in detention, held at the Office of the Prime Minister.
This was among a list of other recommendations recently approved by Cabinet following a submission from the Inter-ministerial working group set up to look at children in detention.
Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna said some $75 million have already been secured by the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing to carry out work on the first five police stations.
The money will come from the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP) fund.
A timeline was not given for when work is expected to begin.
The Office of the Children’s Advocate is to be provided with additional staff to enable it to regularly inspect, monitor and make recommendations regarding juveniles in correctional centres.
