Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusan has said that the government intends to develop a special facility in a separate island to care for children who are repeatedly arrested in criminal environments.

Speaking at a press conference at Iskandhar Koshi yesterday, Ihusan said that according to the Juvenile Justice Act, a system should be established to bring children who commit crimes under the custody of the state and treat them at some kind of state centre. Special centers should also be established within the system, he said.

Ihusan said one such center is a long-term residential care facility that should be built to isolate and care for children who are exposed to crime or involved in criminal environments, who may not be released to the community for rehabilitation treatment.

He said the children would be taken under a court order and kept in the facility till the child is 18 years. The facility will also provide the children with religious education, formal education, moral and skill development as well as psycho-social support.