President ratifies amendment encouraging house arrest for child offenders

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has ratified the amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act which will encourage house arrest for minors convicted of criminal activity.

Under the amendment, several key changes such as including jurisdiction and duties during the investigative and probatory periods for juvenile offenders are specified. 

The amendment stipulates that the Juvenile Court will maintain jurisdiction during the initial investigative stage for children involved in criminal offenses and delegates the duty of monitoring convicted juvenile offenders, during their probationary period, to Probation Officers of the Juvenile Court.

Probation Officers are required to compile and present information concerning juvenile offenders to the Juvenile Court, and relevant implementing agencies are mandated to provide their full assistance and support to Probation Officers during this process.

The Amendment also sanctions the Prosecutor General's Office to draft legislation to follow while pressing charges against juvenile offenders.