Lack of custodial centres driving young offenders onto the street

IRELAND’S custodial system for young offenders is under severe strain. The lack of accommodation is driving problem children towards a life of crime. This problem has long been with us. Is it any wonder, therefore, it is now at crisis point.

The priority should be to reach juveniles at an early stage. There is no point in simply taking them off the streets and locking them up. That does not solve the problem because those juveniles will be replaced by a new group. The judiciary complains also over the lack of suitable accommodation for juvenile offenders.

Another aspect of the problem is that of child prostitution involving boys and girls. Many of these children were in State care when they were young, but on reaching 16 years of age they can no longer be held compulsorily by the authorities, and they leave care.

Many go back to their families but because the situation from which they were taken has not improved, they end up homeless and are left to wander the streets.

What are we doing about this matter? We throw up our arms and shake our heads saying “that it is awful”, but we do not deal with the problem. To know what must be done, we need to identify the extent of the problem and the facilities required to deal with it.

If we do not have the resources to deal with juvenile crime, we do not have the resources to allow citizens to live in peace.

Additional accommodation, cum treatment centres are the answer to the problem. In a booming economy, I look forward to a favourable response from the Minister for Justice. To help our young people I hope that response will be forthcoming.

Noel Collins,

St Jude’s,

Midleton,

Co Cork.