21/06/2022
STATUTORY RIGHTS SAFEGUARDING THE TRIAL OF CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS
1. TRIAL NOT TO BE HELD IN GENERAL COURT
When a child or a young person is charged to Court for an offence which he is alleged to have committed, such child or young person shall be tried in a different building or room other than the general Court room where sittings are held and on different days or at different time from those of general sitting. Pls note that if a child or young person is charged for murder or jointly charged with an adult offender, he will be tried in the general Court.
2. THE WORDS "CONVICTION" & "SENTENCE" NOT ALLOWED
In the trial of children and young persons, the words "conviction" and " sentence" shall cease to be used but shall be construed as including a reference to a person found guilty of an offence, a finding of guilt or an Order made upon such a finding as the case may be.
3. JUVENILES NOT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT DEFENDANTS
The law provides that provisions shall be made, as far as practicable, for preventing persons who apparently have not yet attained the age of 18 years whilst being conveyed to or from Court or whilst waiting before or after their attendance in Court, from associating with adult charged with or convicted of any offence other than an offence with which the person who apparently has not yet attained the age of 18 years is jointly charged or found guilty.
4. HEARING NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
In Court sitting where young persons are tried, no person other than members of his family, officers of the Court, the parties to the case and the legal practitioners representing them shall, except by leave of Court, be allowed to attend.
5. PUNISHMENT TO BE RESTRICTED
a. No child shall be ordered to be
imprisoned.
b. No young person shall be ordered
to be imprisoned if he can be
suitably dealt with in any other
way whether by probation, fine,
corporal punishment or otherwise
6. DEATH SENTENCE NOT ALLOWED
