Georgia’s Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani says this year more juveniles were offered preventative sentences rather than prison terms.
This meant less young people were behind bars and offered young offenders more opportunities to lead a successful life among the general public.
This year more juveniles were involved in diversion and mediation program than in previous years," she announced.
This year the percentage of juveniles with a 'not guilty' verdict was four percent, which was the same as last year, but when compared to previous years this figure was only 0.3 percent," Tsulukiani said today.
Before November 2014 only juveniles accused of minor crimes had the opportunity to be offered the diversion-mediation program, but after November 2014 the program expanded and was offered to juveniles who also faced charges for more serious crimes.