ILE: Underage detainees line up during a judiciary authority visit to assess the conditions of juveniles held at Juba prison in October 2024. Credit: Michael Daniel/Eye Radio

The mobile court operating in Juba Reformatory School at Juba Central Prison successfully released 150 juveniles, including 10 girls, following court sessions held in December, 2024.

The sessions, according to County Court Judge Achok Chan Reec commenced on December 6 and concluded on December 31^st.

Judge Reec revealed that the court, comprising four judges two from county courts and two from high courts addressed various cases involving minor harm, serious harm, theft, murder, rape, and gangsterism

She added that the sentences in the related offenses ranged from one to five years.

“We adjudicated many cases, which reduced the congestion in the reformatory in Juba National Prison. We released 150 children, including 10 girls, and they were released either on bail or on bond,” she said.

According to Judge Achok the court’s efforts resulting in the release of juvenile on bail, bond, or due to the absence of complainants, some of whom abandoned cases over time, has reduced congestion in the reformatory.

“Some reports were dropped after evaluation due to the complainants abandoning or being absent from the case for a long period”, she added.

Judge Achok emphasized the challenges faced during the sessions, including difficulty contacting complainants due to inactive phone numbers and delays caused by their unavailability.

She said the judges worked six days a week, handling up to ten cases daily, achieving resolutions through reconciliation and settlements.

“During our work in the reformatory in adjudicating cases, we used to work six days a week without holidays, as the number of cases we adjudicated in a day reached ten cases.

“One of the biggest challenges we faced was the complainants’ faults and the lack of their phones in service, which made it difficult to reach them after opening the report because they would disappear.”

The judge also highlighted the importance of family involvement in providing structure for children to prevent delinquency.

“I noticed in the reformatory is that raising children is not easy and they live in a state of emptiness. I hope that families, in order to keep children away from the street and prison, will occupy them with something to release their energy.”

She said beyond delivering rulings, the court facilitated consultations between specialists, children, and families to address underlying issues and promote rehabilitation.

“We were able to reach solutions in some cases through reconciliation and settlements, and we held consultation sessions for children and families by specialists, and our role was not limited to rulings only.”