Authorities at Torit County Prison in Eastern Equatoria state are stranded with 11 juveniles sentenced to serve terms in reform homes.
Torit County Prison Director Anthony Lemi Mimbe told the press that the authorities cannot follow the courts’ sentences due to lack of juvenile rehabilitation facilities, Emmanuel Radio reported.He notes that the 11 juveniles convicted to serve a range of prison terms up to 7 years are locked up with adults.
Torit correctional facility holds 224 inmates, including 110 convicted, 56 on remand, six juveniles, 17 guarantee prisoners, a lunatic and one baby with its mother.
Eight other convicts on the death row are also in the same facility.
Colonel Lemi said the mix-up of juveniles to serve sentences on various offences is worrying the prison authorities.
The prison director lamented that it was not good to accommodate juvenile and adults offenders together because it may transform the children into hardcore criminals.
Colonel Lemi said juvenile offenders may acquire criminal knowhow if they are kept with adults.
Eastern Equatoria Director for Child Welfare in Ministry of Culture and Social Welfare, Jane Surur, said the establishment of remand homes at Chukudum in Budi County and Narus in Kapoeta County are on hold due to the austerity measures.