Government Signals Permanent Shift Away from Housing Juveniles in Adult Prison
The government of Antigua and Barbuda has signaled a permanent shift away from housing juvenile offenders in adult prison facilities, underscoring a policy approach centered on rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant said Cabinet has reaffirmed that juveniles who come into conflict with the law must be separated from adult inmates, in keeping with legal requirements.
“Government recognizes that it cannot have juveniles, especially juveniles who have fallen short of the law, integrate with other criminals, adult criminals,” Merchant said during the weekly Cabinet briefing.
The policy direction was highlighted following Cabinet’s approval to relocate two male juveniles from His Majesty’s Prison to the Dennis Bowers Rehabilitation Center. Merchant stressed that the move reflects a broader commitment, not a temporary measure.
“It is going to be a permanent thing,” he said.
Merchant said the government’s objective is rehabilitation, noting that placing juveniles alongside adult inmates undermines that goal.
“It is a rehabilitation effort. That’s the aim,” he said. “According to the law, juveniles must be separated and be in a juvenile facility if they have fallen short of the law.”
While the juveniles will be housed at the rehabilitation center, Merchant said prison authorities will continue to oversee supervision and security arrangements.
“They are inmates, and so the prison officials will have responsibility for those juveniles, but they will be at the Dennis Bowers facility,” he said.
Merchant also said the rehabilitation effort will be supported by trained professionals.
“There are professionals within the Ministry of Social Work for social transformation who have been co-opted to work along with these juveniles, along with prison officials, towards their rehabilitation,” he said.
Cabinet has also approved measures to improve transportation and emergency response coordination between the rehabilitation center and the prison, as retrofitting work begins to prepare the facility for occupancy.
The move reflects the government’s stated commitment to protecting juvenile welfare while strengthening public safety and rehabilitation outcomes.
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