A total of 24 juveniles escaped on Saturday night from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming, Essequibo and they have all either been recaptured or voluntarily returned to the facility.
Divisional Commander Khali Pareshram yesterday informed Stabroek News that the break-out occurred around 7.30 pm on Saturday.
A search was immediately launched for the juveniles, some of whom were recaptured in separate locations.
The others, Pareshram said, returned on their own.
Of the 24 juveniles, seventeen were male while seven were female.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the girls escaped through a door, while the boys reportedly pried open a window.
Several months ago, thirteen juveniles escaped from the facility, following two separate breakouts.
About a month prior to this, 11 juveniles had escaped. They were apprehended shortly after.
In recent years, the NOC has been put under scrutiny due to complaints by juveniles about the conditions at the detention facility.
The government has also taken several initiatives to address the situation.
During last year, a decision was taken for the NOC to come under the Ministry of Social Protection instead of the Ministry of Education.
