Children in the juvenile justice system
Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre (JJC) is located in Bangor, Co. Down and is the custodial directorate of the Youth Justice Agency (YJA). The Criminal Justice (Children)(Northern Ireland) Order 1998, provides the legislative basis for the JJC’s operation.
In 2013-14, following recommendations made by the NI Human Rights Commission, Ministers O’Dowd (Education) and Ford (Justice) agreed that education in Woodlands should transfer to the Education Authority (EA) to be operated as a unique form of EOTAS provision.
Woodlands JJC has a maximum capacity for 48 young people between the ages of 10 and 17, held either on remand or after they have been sentenced by a court to custody. The average occupancy of the centre is around 30 young people, each of whom will have a care manager and another member of staff who will be responsible for looking after their individual needs and who gives support and guidance throughout their time in custody. Each young person, including those above compulsory school age, receives educational provision during their detention.
Information available
The YJA is an agency of the Department of Justice. To find out more about Woodlands JJC you can visit their website: