ZAGREB, October 26, 2018 - UNICEF Croatia and the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor on Friday signed an agreement on strengthening the capacity of the Croatian prosecutorial authorities in tackling juvenile delinquency in the period between 2018 and 2020, with the aim of education and prevention of juvenile crimes.
"Children and teenagers who run afoul of the law need our attention and care at all levels. Before they become adults, the society has the last chance to support them in taking responsibility for their own actions and their own lives, with the assistance of professionals. Therefore, it is extremely important to have experts who can encourage positive changes in the behaviour and lives of children that have run afoul of the law," said the head of the UNICEF Croatia office in Zagreb Valentina Otmačić.
In 2017, 1,883 juvenile delinquents were reported to judicial authorities.
Chief State Prosecutor Dražen Jelenić said that the agreement would help the efforts of prosecutors for juvenile delinquency.
Under the agreement, 98 state prosecutors for juvenile delinquency and 20 experts who are not jurists will be additionally trained to work with juvenile delinquents.
(Hina) ms
