Children Deprived of Liberty. A survey among detainees of all six Rehabilitation and Training Centers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

This study provides qualitative data on children in conflict with the law. In particular, it sheds light on their social background, their experiences while being in contact with the justice system and their views on the conditions they are subjected to. The main objectives of this survey were to: conduct a desktop study on available data concerning children deprived of their liberty in Jordan in order to provide a clear picture on the extent of the use of pre-trial detention and imprisonment; collect qualitative data, in all six detention centers for girls and boys of the country, on social background of detained children and add the perspectives of children on their experiences while being in contact with the juvenile justice; compile, edit and publish results of the study in a reader and an online presentation. The survey was conducted from the 5th of September to the 6th of October 2013 among 209 juvenile detainees – 3 females and 206 males – aged from 12 to 18 years old in all 6 rehabilitation and training centers for juveniles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Main findings show that there is a high number of juveniles who were detained without being convicted for more than six months; with regard to their social background, the survey shows a high prevalence of poverty and lack of education among detained children; the treatment of young suspects during police interrogation and custody might be characterized by numerous violations of their rights; lack of services such as educational or vocational training or school lessons.