The Prisons Care and Counseling Association (PRISCA) has urged government to fully actualise the newly established children’s law which does not allow juveniles to live in proximity with adult offenders

PRISCA Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka says, taking children to prisons or correctional centers will not help but rather increase the urge of juveniles to commit more crimes due to living with adult offenders

Mr Malembeka adds that the country’s correctional services are already congested, in this regard instead of juveniles focusing on criminal procedures they must divert their attention to psychosocial counselling which will turn them into responsible citizens.

He added that government should invest in skills training programmes for youths and children to distract them from committing criminal offences.

“Government should allocate enough funds to help with the creation of skills development programs that will easily occupy children, therefore obstructing them from committing criminal acts.”

Mr Malembeka says it is important for the government to work with different organisations such as PRISCA in order to intensify the fight for reforming juveniles.

” The government cannot work alone in resolving this issue but should work on partnering with organisations that will bring counseling and reformation to children.”