Number of children in detention

Number of children in relevant age group in the population, country specific

Rate per 100000 children; In cases where an age range was not specified, the reported number of children in detention is presented in place of the rate.

This indicator includes children who are deprived of liberty due to conflict with the law. The deprivation of liberty means any form of detention or imprisonment or the placement of a person in a public or private custodial setting, from which this person is not permitted to leave at will. The definition of ‘detention’ includes children detained pre-trial, pre-sentence and post–sentencing in any type of facility (including police custody). Data on children detained under administrative law, including those in migration detention, those in contact with the law such as victims/survivors or witnesses, and those experiencing alternative justice measures, including situations of semi-liberty or probation, are not meant to be included in the compilation.

NYHQ will calculate the rate of children in detention for each country using standard population estimates produced by the UN Population Division. The population estimate used for each country will be customized to match the reference year of the data.

Countries are requested to provide the number (not the rate) of children in detention (total and by sex). Please specify what ages the data refer to as well as the reference year. Please also specify how the number was obtained (e.g., average number of children in detention at a certain point during the year or number of children in detention at the end of the year) and the types of detention facilities (e.g., pre-trial, post-trial, police custody) covered by the available data