Report advises legal action in juvenile jail

ANKARA - Doğan News Agency

The Pozantı Juvenile Prison in Adana has been the focus of abuse claims.

A report issued by the Justice Ministry yesterday advised administrative and judicial proceedings against a number of prison officials employed at a juvenile penal institution in Ankara’s Pozantı district, after allegations of sexual abuse led to public outrage.

The report recommended legal proceedings against the former director of the prison, who left his post on Sept. 15, 2011, the current prison director, who assumed the post on Sept. 5, 2011, two former deputy directors and two chief correction officers.

The Justice Ministry’s report also advised judicial proceedings against 18 prisoners who allegedly engaged in ill treatment and sexual abuse against a number of juvenile inmates, while recommending that the findings be sent to the relevant Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Officials obtained their findings regarding the Pozantı M-Type Juvenile Closed Penal Institution through face-to-face interviews with inmates, prison administrators and correction officers, the ministry’s report said.

A subsequent report prepared by three doctors also detailed incidents of sexual abuse and rape between prisoners that were allegedly known to prison officials.