KAJANG: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) is planning to set up halfway houses for juvenile delinquents who have completed their sentence as a way of helping them readjust to society.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, said this was one of the proposals made in the amendments to the Child Act 2015 which will be debated in the Dewan Rakyat sitting in March.
“This is important because besides the education and training provided for them by the prison authorities to help them adjust to life outside upon their release, they must also be prepared to return to society,” she said.
She was speaking to the media after visiting juvenile remand detainees at the Kajang Integrity School at the Kajang Prison here yesterday.
During the visit, Rohani was updated on the activities for 257 juveniles remanded at the school, which provides academic, spiritual and skills classes.
Rohani said the amendments would also include a compassionate element for the juvenile delinquents who reform into good citizens.
“The government is worried that when juvenile delinquents are freed and released back into society, some may not be ready.
“That is why we are thinking of providing halfway houses to help them start a new life,” she said. — Bernama