Oberstown Youth Detention Campus

Our mission – to ensure that young people detained in Oberstown Children Detention Campus are supported to move away from offending behaviour and to make a more positive contribution to society.

Our vision – to provide safe, secure and appropriate care for young people to meet their health and education needs, and to support them to address their offending behaviour and prepare them to return to their families and communities following release from detention.

The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, commenced in November 2017. Under this Act, Oberstown Children Detention Campus is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities as outlined in Part 2 of the Act. Victims of crime can voluntarily register with Oberstown. This can be done either directly on our website: www.oberstown.com or by requesting a postal copy from vlo@oberstown.com

A registered victim is entitled to ask for information about any period of planned absence of an offender. Planned absences include release, transfer, early discharge [release] and periods of temporary leave during the Detention Order. These absences are explained below. As a victim, you may nominate a representative to be told on your behalf if you wish. Oberstown Children Detention Campus’ Victim Liaison Service is strictly confidential.

The Children Act, 2001 as amended (the Act), supports the reintegration of young people in detention into their communities and society.

The following sections of the Act allow young people to have planned absences from the detention campus to support their reintegration and to meet specific needs of young people:

Section 200 – Provision of medical treatment

This section allows young people to be taken off site to receive medical attention or treatment that they cannot receive in the detention school. The child is considered to be in lawful custody while off site for this purpose.

Section 202 – Permitted absence

A Section 202 permitted absence is a once-off, off campus movement in exceptional circumstances, for example, for an offender to attend the funeral of a near relative, or to visit a seriously ill relative. The offender may or may not be accompanied by staff.

Section 203 – Other permitted absences

Section 203 absences are where permission is given for either one-off or repeated movement off campus unaccompanied by staff for the purposes of attending a training centre, work experience, or a recreational or sporting activity.

Section 204 – Mobility trips

Section 204 absences are authorised absences from a children detention school to help the young person’s reintegration into society. The young person remains under the supervision of Oberstown staff.

Section 205 – Temporary leave

Temporary leave may be granted to a young person at the discretion of the Director. It does not apply during the first month of a detention order, and may be suspended if considered to be not in the best interests of the young person or society in general. The next paragraph explains the conditions of this leave.

Section 206 – Conditions of a grant of temporary leave

The young person on temporary leave must be under the supervision of an identified parent or guardian, or another responsible person for the period of temporary leave. The young person may be absent from the detention school for one or more nights. The parent, guardian or other responsible person must undertake to supervise the young person and abide by the conditions of residency, curfew and any other specific conditions that are stated.

Section 207 – Supervision in the community

A young person may be placed out in the community under the supervision of the Probation Service, following consultation and agreement. A young person must be fully supervised by parents or guardians, and they must attend school or a training programme. The placing out in the community may be cancelled if there are concerns about child welfare and protection, or if the conditions of supervision are not being met.

Section 210. (1)(2) – Early Discharge

A young person may be released from detention 24 hours before their release date, or on the nearest working day if their release date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday.

As a registered victim, if you have any questions about the Victim Liaison Service at Oberstown Children Detention campus, you can contact the Victim Liaison Officer at the contact details below.

• Address: Victim Liaison Officer, Oberstown Children Detention Campus, Lusk, Co Dublin. K45 AY66
• Tel: 01-852 6445/428
• Email: vlo@oberstown.com
• Website: www.oberstown.com

As a victim, if you have a complaint about the work of the Victim Liaison Service, you can write or send an email to the following address. You can also phone.

Where to contact us

• Address: Director, Oberstown Children Detention Campus, Lusk, Co Dublin, K45 AY66
• Tel: 01-852 6400
• Email: info@oberstown.com