Bill will grant judges power to defer detention for young offenders

Offenders under the age of 18 are currently sentenced to Oberstown Children Detention Campus. File Picture: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Under proposed laws, judges will have the power to postpone a child’s detention to allow them to deal with their offending in the community under supervision.

Unlike adults, children currently cannot be given a suspended sentence because experts believe children think that they are getting off from sanction and will continue their offending.