Children in custody in Iceland reach unprecedented levels amid rising serious offenses

The number of children held in custody in Iceland has reached unprecedented levels. Four children have been detained this year alone at the Stuðlar facility, marking the highest number ever observed. According to officials at the Child and Family Agency, the situation is so dire that the facility is struggling to cope, describing it as navigating through turbulent waters.

Recent incidents include a sixteen-year-old boy who fatally stabbed a seventeen-year-old girl and injured two others during the annual Culture Night. Due to safety concerns, he was transferred to Hólmsheiði prison, where he continues to receive care.

Over the past weekend, ten children were emergency housed at Stuðlar, despite the facility’s capacity to safely accommodate only five. This represents a significant strain on resources, as the facility recorded a total of four children in custody for up to 530 days this year, compared to three children for 360 days last year and just one child for ten days in 2022.

Funi Sigurðsson, the agency’s director, indicated that the rapid increase in the number of children in custody is alarming, noting a shift toward more serious offenses over a short period. The emergency housing unit operates in a closed, secure area, monitored by staff through surveillance systems.

With a lack of adequate space to separate the children based on their needs, the facility faces challenges in managing these heightened pressures. The maximum sentence for minors is eight years, with most serving one-third of their sentence. Although improvements are being pursued, officials are currently working under extreme conditions, trying their best to ensure the safety of the children involved.