ARTICLE - JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

COMMISSIONER SENATUS DECLARES WAR ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
(Haiti Libre) -

PORT-AU-PRINCE – New Government Prosecutor Jean Renel Senatus is waging war against juvenile delinquency and the phenomenon known as “Zo Kiki”, having arrested or detained more than 60 individuals in the past week, many of whom are minors under the age of 18.

The Head of the Office of Prosecutions began on Thursday with the arrest of 34 persons in Petion-Ville, who were engaging in activities of debauchery, according to several reports, including those of Vision 2000.

On Saturday, more raids and under cover operations took place that led to 24 individuals being apprehended by law enforcement officials.

Sexual promiscuity and “Zo Kiki”, when young persons are attending “after-school” nightclubs drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and engaging in sexual acts are among the high-priority cases of the commissioner’s office.

Several cases of the prostitution of minors have also been observed and intercepted by officers of the National Police of Haiti during the recent arrests.

Commissioner Senatus has made a clear declaration that young people must at all times carry with them their national identification cards. He has warned businesses, hotels, nightclubs and motels that tolerating young people in their establishments will incur prosecution.

While most of the arrested were minors aged 17 and under were released to their parents, some adults and young people of adult age will face justice. Senatus continues to call on directors and principals of schools to urge order among their students and that students outside of class during class hours require a document authorizing them to walk the streets of the capital.