In response to growing public and legislative concern over youth involvement in violent, firearm-related offenses, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has greenlit a targeted review of the nation’s 2015 Child Justice Act, with the explicit goal of narrowing eligibility for diversion programs for juveniles accused of serious gun crimes. The decision was formally announced to reporters by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a post-Cabinet press briefing held Thursday, one day after the body convened to debate the issue.
Under the existing Child Justice Act, any individual under the age of 18 is classified as a child, and qualifying cases can be processed outside of the traditional formal court system through a diversion framework. Designed as a restorative justice measure, diversion was intended to balance accountability for young offenders with support for rehabilitation and community reintegration, while also sparing minors the lifelong consequences of a permanent criminal record and unnecessary social stigma. Currently, the Child Justice Board evaluates multiple factors before approving a diversion recommendation: input from the Director of Public Prosecutions or an assigned prosecutor, a formal social and psychological assessment of the minor, the child’s age, and a confirmation that the minor accepts responsibility for the alleged offense.
Despite the original intent of the policy, Merchant emphasized that Cabinet members have growing anxieties about the rising participation of young people in severe criminal activity, especially offenses involving illegal firearms. The ongoing review, which has been assigned to the Office of the Attorney General, will specifically scrutinize the provisions that currently allow minors accused of gun-related crimes to qualify for diversion. If changes move forward following the review, the list of offenses eligible for diversion will be narrowed, meaning juveniles accused of the most serious offenses including gun crimes will be processed through the standard adult-like court system instead of receiving alternative handling. As of the briefing, no formal amendments to the legislation have been drafted or approved, and the Attorney General’s assessment will guide exactly what adjustments will be proposed to the existing law.