A year has passed since the approval of the bill on juvenile offenders that also provides for separate legal procedures and detention outside the island’s central prisons for minors.
However, no place has been set up for them yet even though the number of juvenile delinquents involved in serious cases last year rose to 231 compared to 206 in 2020. In 2019, the number was 282 – according to the Cyprus Statistical Service.
For minor violations, 176 minors were tried last year compared to 264 in 2020 and 324 in 2019.
The bill highlights the importance of seeking new practices and alternative penalties, especially for those sentenced to up to two years in jail.
As well as for enriched training programmes and other actions that are beneficial to the system and the young inmates.
