Justice minister welcomes changes to justice system for children

Justice Minister Emily Yiolitis praised parliament’s passing of a bill which will overhaul the way in which minors are treated and handled across the justice system.

According to Yiolitis, among the most notable changes are that minors’ cases will now be handled by a Special Children’s Court.

In comments on Twitter after parliament passed the bill, she wrote that: “I welcome the vote… which guarantees the rights of children in our country and creates structures and procedures… which takes into account primarily the best interests of the child.”

The Special Children’s Court will handle issues such as parental supervision, community surveillance, placing a child in a detention centre, electronic bracelet surveillance, treatment at a substance abuse centre, fines and so on.

There will also be a process made available in which a juvenile offender can be placed in a decriminalisation programme instead of being prosecuted.