THE Juvenile Justice Department of the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Community, Family, and Youth Resilience (CYFR) programme, has trained thirty-five Civil Society Core Groups, Non- Governmental Organizations and Government Departments, in Juvenile Justice Diversion and Alternative Sentencing (JJDAST).

The training was conducted on the 14 and 15 of November 2019, by consultant Dr. Dianne Williams, a Criminologist and Certified Criminal Justice Specialist. The objective of training was to build the capacity of participants to better implement diversion and alternative sentencing programmes, a release from the ministry said.

Key components of the training focused on policies and procedures related to diversion and alternative sentencing, the roles and functions of organizations providing diversion and alternative sentencing support, the organizational framework and related practical guidelines, and protocols and processes for the implementation of approved diversion programmes.

The training was a major step in building a support cohort among civil society groups in all administrative regions of Guyana, who can provide suitable diversion programmes to a child who comes into contact or conflict with the law. The Juvenile Justice Department, through the Director, is mandated, under section 9 of the Juvenile Justice Act, to develop and maintain suitable diversion programmes and to recognize as suitable, diversion programmes offered by Government Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Groups and the Juvenile Justice Committee.

The Civil Society Groups who participated in the training were: Rights of the Child Commission; Sophia Community Development Association; Social Life Issues Guidance & Counselling Service; Young Pioneers, District Grand Lodge of Guyana; Family Awareness Consciousness togetherness; Real Talk; reMan Guyana; Amerindian Peoples’ Association; Ministry of Education; Merundoi; Youth Challenge Guyana; Linden Care Foundation; Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association; Volunteer Youth Corps; National Coordinating Coalition Inc; Central Islamic Organization of Guyana; Practical Christian Ministries; Hope Foundation; Hope for All; Child Link; Monique’s Caring Hands; Protect Your Peace; Board of Industrial Training (BIT); Specialists Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR); Interweave Solutions Guyana; The Rainbow Foundation; National Parks Commission; Guyana Trans United; For the Children’s Sake Foundation; Guyana Community of Persons Living with and Affected by HIV; Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SOSOD); Rainbow House; Mystique Dance & Empowerment Group; United Bricklayers and United Bridge Builders.