Officials in Suriname are preparing amendments to the Criminal Code in order to introduce alternative punishment for criminal youths, Justice Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi has disclosed.

Santokhi said Thursday the new program will afford delinquents an opportunity to choose whether they go to jail or enroll in a program to either receive training and education or employment in non-profit institutions such as state-owned elderly homes and hospitals.

"There is one condition. Those who don't cooperate will go to jail," the minister warned, saying that the amendments will be taken to Parliament next year.

Prior to the coming into force of this law a pilot project was launched Thursday to enforce alternative punishment on a selected group of teens who have committed minor offences.

Santokhi said after a year the results of this pilot project, which is being executed by a multi-disciplinary taskforce, will be evaluated.

The project is being monitored by the Ministry of Justice and Police, the Prosecutor's Office, the Suriname Police Force, the Judicial Department for Child Protection and the Foundation Welfare Institute Nickerie and the University of Suriname.

The stakeholders have signed a cooperation agreement with the Suriname Water Supply Company and the Ashiana Elderly Home which will facilitate the youth who will participate in the programme.

Santokhi said successful implementation of the new policy will ultimately result in fewer adolescents in the prisons, which according to him are currently a breeding ground where youths are being trained to become hardened criminals by incarcerated diehard criminals.