It said that on 7 August 2012, two juveniles and an adult blocked a main road in Hamad Town with trash and tires, setting them on fire. They were spotted by a police patrol during the act. The adult was apprehended at the scene; the two juveniles hid inside a garage but were turned over to the police.
The juveniles were questioned at the Public Prosecution, where they admitted their part in the vandalism. The Public Prosecution charged the adult with arson and ordered a precautionary detention of seven days for Mirza and Al-Arab. They were brought before a Juvenile Judge who ordered that they be placed in the Juvenile Care Center for seven days, based upon the evidence and their admission. After inconsistent testimony on three separate occasions, the Judge held that their stay at the Center is to be extended. The investigation is in its final phases and the case will reach a resolution in accordance with the law.
The Public Prosecution called on parents to exercise their duties by guiding their children behavior and also exert efforts in preventing them getting involved in situations that may put their safety and wellbeing at risk.
The Juvenile Care Center provides a structured environment where children receive special attention in academic tutoring, social services and health care .The number of youths housed at the Center has remained stable at an average of 15 since the start of the year. Youths stay at the center for a matter of weeks, with the longest stay, in the most serious of cases, sometimes extending to a full year.
There is no criminal trial in this instance. Rather a judge makes a decision after hearing from the juvenile, his or her lawyer, a social worker, and the prosecuting attorney. The judge’s decision is based on what is best for the child. The notion of punishment does not enter the equation.