At the second Heads of Pacific Islands Correction Conference that was held at the Forum Secretariat this week, it was revealed that youths are dominating the prisons population in almost all Pacific Island countries.
According to the Fiji Sun, the meeting, held on Tuesday, revealed that South Pacific prisons are filled with 'a very young prison population ranging between the ages of 19 to 20 years'.According to the Fiji Times Online, Attorney-General Chambers Information officer, Ms. Sharila Lazarus, 'said the correctional services system is now challenged and imperatively needs to develop programmes that are suitable for these young offenders'.
'Deputy Commissioner Prisons Auta Moceisuva said there was importance of appropriate programs for the young offenders in order to curb the growth of crime and prevent young offenders graduating into hardened criminals'.