The government has decided to designate a separate island for minors involved in crime to be taken for rehabilitation.
Speaking at a press conference by the Home Ministry yesterday, Minister Ali Ihusan said the program to be conducted for offending minors in collaboration with relevant agencies will include education, sports and psycho-social intervention sessions.
"As a result, children who grow up in a criminal environment will have a safe environment and new hope for their lives. As such, the name we have decided to call this island is also 'Hope Island,'" the minister said.
The minors are to be kept on the island under state care until they turn 18 years of age. After they turn 18, they will be recruited for the police or military, Ihusan said. Assessments will be conducted after that as well, he said.
"After assessing for a certain period, then we will offer the opportunity for them to go ahead in their chosen field," the minister said.
The government has also decided to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years at present to 12 years. Ihusan said yesterday that the decision was made to seek legal authority for taking children involved in crime since that age under state care.
The minister did not disclose the island chosen for housing juvenile delinquents or provide further details about the rehabilitation program. He did not say how the legal framework for the change would be prepared either.
