Civil ombudsman investigations present that in 2023 and up to now in 2024, minors have been positioned in 13 completely different high-security prisons for adults.
One of many prisons the place minors have been positioned along with adults within the jail is Indre Østfold jail, Eidsberg ward, which has three jail locations for minors.
– It’s critical that youngsters are positioned in jail along with adults, says civil ombudsman Hanne Harlem.
Not in one of the best pursuits of the kid
The civil ombudsman emphasizes that the UN Conference on the Rights of the Baby states that imprisonment of a kid ought to solely be used as a final resort and that youngsters in jail must be saved separate from adults. Solely the place it’s within the kid’s finest curiosity can they be imprisoned with grownup inmates.
– We can’t see that the authorities make sure that it’s assessed whether or not it’s in one of the best curiosity of the kid to be imprisoned with grownup inmates in Eidsberg jail. That is objectionable, says Harlem.
– Though a number of of the stays have been quick and could also be linked to court docket hearings, we additionally see examples the place youngsters have spent a number of weeks, and even months, in jail with adults. That is disturbing, says Harlem.
Lack of dependable figures
The civil ombudsman’s assessment has additionally proven that the correctional service lacks dependable statistics on the variety of minors in jail for adults.
– And the authorities’ follow-up of kids who’re imprisoned along with adults is simply too weak, she emphasizes.
The Civil Ombudsman now recommends to the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Providers that the present system of inserting youngsters in Eidsberg jail be ended instantly, and that measures be applied to make sure that minors aren’t positioned in a jail for adults.
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2024-06-13 20:35:18