environment that seeks to support the prospects for the reintegration of those committed to its
care.” It was expressed that there is a strong emphasis on education and training, and courses are
offered in basic reading and numeracy skills which is commendable. Juvenile offenders are being
provided with both life skills and training opportunities that will be supportive of their efforts to
become reintegrated into the wider society.183
It has however been noted that in Trinidad and Tobago, there is an inadequate number of
juvenile detention facilities. With regards to the adequacy of detention facilities, in Woods, Rion
v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, commenting on the facilities in which children
are detained, it was stated by Justice Gobin that there is “a need for more support services and
perhaps a wider range of institutions to provide more humane appropriate accommodation and
supervision for children who have to be placed by judicial officers”.184 It is submitted that more
emphasis must be placed on the development of such facilities in order to ensure that juvenile
offenders are adequately accommodated.
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS AND REFORM MEASURES
There have been attempts to remedy the deficiencies of the criminal justice system of Trinidad
and Tobago, with regards to the treatment of juvenile offenders, through legislation. In the year
2000 a package of children legislation was passed185 and this was considered a development in
the area of protection of children rights. This legislation however was never proclaimed. This
illustrates that although there has been recognition of the deficiencies of the current criminal
justi 6R7