Discipline shall respect the child’s dignity and shall instil in the child a sense of justice, self-respect and respect for human rights.150
Officials dealing with juveniles shall be specially trained and personally suited to that
purpose.151
Periodic as well as unannounced visits to juvenile facilities shall be undertaken by
inspectors.152
Parents are to be notified of any arrest, detention, transfer, sickness, injury or death.153
Practice
All police officials
Enrol in specialized training on the effective and humane treatment and care of juvenile offenders.
Participate in educational programmes for children to assist in preventing juvenile
crime and juvenile victimization.
Get to know the children in your duty area and their parents.
Be alert to places and adults presenting criminal risks and to the presence of children
in such places or in contact with such adults.
If children are sighted away from school during school hours, investigate and notify
parents and school authorities.
Promptly investigate any evidence of neglect or abuse of children in their homes, communities or police facilities.
Meet regularly with social workers and medical professionals to discuss children’s
issues relating to your work.
For non-serious crimes, return juvenile offenders to parents or social agencies.
Keep all records pertaining to children in separate and secure storage.
Report to superiors on any information indicating that a colleague is not suited to dealing with juveniles.
Command and supervisory officials
Encourage the use of a variety of dispositions for alternatives to institutional treatment
of children, including care, guidance and supervision orders; counselling;
probation; foster care; educational and vocational training programmes; and other
appropriate and proportionate measures.
Keep complete and secure records on all detained juveniles, including identity; reasons for commitment; day and hour of admission, transfer and release; details of
notifications to parents; physical or mental health problems; and staff charged with
care and treatment.
Establish procedures for direct complaints and communications by juvenile detainees
to the director of the institution or to judicial authorities and social agencies.
Assist in the development and implementation of community programmes for the
prevention of juvenile crime.
Recruit, hire and specially train personnel who are suited to dealing with juvenile
offenders.
150
United Nations Rules for Juveniles, rule 66.
The Beijing Rules, rules 6 and 22; United Nations Rules for Juveniles, rules 81-88.
152
United Nations Rules for Juveniles, rule 72.
153
CRC, articles 37(c) and 40(2)(b)(ii); The Beijing Rules, rules 10.1 and 26.5; SMRTP, rules 37 and 44; United Nations Rules for Juveniles, rules 56-58.
151
133
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