We also asked the AG about the recent judgement from the High Court. It addressed the July 2024, detention of a 13 year old boy under a State of Emergency.
On March second, Justice Marsha Alexander found the detention violated the child's constitutional rights.
So, is it a teachable moment for the state on how it handles children in detention? The Attorney General discussed it:
Anthony Sylvester, Attorney General
"The state has this very difficult and very invidious responsibility of law and order and balancing the need to ensure that persons who commit crimes that they are detained and a proper investigation is conducted and where an investigation leads, charges are levied. As it relates to that specific incident, there was credible information in the possession of the police that the minor was involved in the commission of a very, very serious offense. Steps were taken with respect to address him being charged. It so happened that you had the State of Emergency at that time. But what the court judgment certainly indicated - and as you know - there are certain mechanisms need to be in place to ensure that a young person, that when they are taken into the criminal justice system, that as best, as far as possible that they are insulated and that they are not, it does not become more corrosive for them and their place with adults and things of that nature. One of the shortcomings of the state at the time is that we did not provide, or we did not adhere to what the constitution had set out with respect to having a tribunal be established within a period of time. And as well that it should have been provided and facilities and a mechanism for an attorney or a parent. So those are things which as you would appreciate the commissioner of police the attorney general, we do not do those things, we rely on our agents and our neighbors to ensure that they follow the law."
