Parliament to Consider Three New Youth Violence Legislation Proposals Next Week

Three important pieces of legislation related to gangs and youth are scheduled to be presented in the Parliament next week.

They were all examined in Cabinet Wednesday

These legislative acts include the Anti-Gang Bill, the Child Justice (Amendment) Bill, and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill.

These new and amended laws’ primary objective is to address the recent surge in criminal activities involving youth.

The Cabinet acknowledged the potential impact of imposing increased minimum sentences while also recognizing the constitutional concerns surrounding the potential limitations on magistrates’ and judges’ discretion in handling criminal cases.

It was noted that despite the proposed two-year minimal custodial sentence for gun crimes, the Cabinet reached a consensus on a minimum sentence of five years, granting magistrates and judges the authority to determine the precise length of incarceration based on individual cases.

Furthermore, the Cabinet has committed to consulting with various stakeholders who have a vested interest in crime deterrence, including Judges, Magistrates, the Police, the Prime Minister and the Attorney General, the Bar Association, religious institutions, the business community, the Director of Public Prosecutions, representatives from private sector organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The meeting highlighted the Cabinet’s intention to establish a Criminal Justice Board with the principal responsibility of reviewing legislative drafts related to crime before they are presented in the Parliament.

This approach aims to ensure that proposed bills incorporate comprehensive input from a wide range of sources, rather than solely reflecting the perspectives of Parliament members.