Superintendent of Prisons in the British Virgin islands, Kenton Callwood, recently expressed concern over the lack of facilities at the prisons to deal with juveniles. His statement was made during the recent trial of a 16 year old youth who was sentenced to 6 years in prison by Justice Indra Charles on a conviction of manslaughter.

In her judgment, Justice Charles reported the superintendent as saying that the prison is ill-prepared to deal with a long-term juvenile inmate who for the most part will be isolated. Also, major changes will have to be made to meet the minimum standards required for dealing with juvenile inmates.

The judge hoped that this case would encourage the government of the BVI territory to move quickly to provide a proper facility to house its young people who have breached the law. According to the judge, although a new section for juveniles has been created in the new female section of the prison, the needs of minors cannot be met.

In addition, she said juveniles in adult facilities are extremely vulnerable from not only adult inmates but also from abuses from untrained staff.