The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wants more to be done to improve the country's only remand centre for 10- to 17-year-olds.
The commission made a series of recommendations to improve the Juvenile Justice Centre in Rathgael, Bangor, in its 2002 report, In Our Care. Its follow-up report, Still in Our Care, found significant improvements have been made in terms of healthcare and schooling.
But Linda Moore, investigations worker for the commission and one of the report authors, said: "There are still too many young people admitted to custody on remand, and we urge the courts to consider alternatives."
Other concerns raised include use of restraints. A replacement centre will open in January 2007.
www.nihrc.org.
