A study carried on by a non-governmental organization shows that the rights of the detained children are seriously violated.

According to the monitoring report "Observance of minor's rights in detention places" carried out by the Institute for Penal Reform (IPR), as part of a larger project of reforming the juvenile justice system in Moldova, with the support of UNICEF, 85% of minors that are in preventive custody did not have any meeting with the lawyer. In 43% of the cases the period of detention exceeded four months, fact that contravenes the legislation in force.

IPR director Igor Dolea stated that the study is a premiere for Moldova and it analyzes important aspects as: detention of minors and application of preventive measures, the treatment they are subjected to during the interrogatory, detention conditions, right to defense, summoning and hearing, alternative punishments.

Dolea mentioned that majority of the questioned children were under arrest for committing thefts - over 80%, robberies - 6%, encroachment on property - 2% and damage of property - 2%.

The study was performed on a sample of 61 teenagers and youths between 14 and 18, detained in preventive arrest isolators in Balti and Chisinau. Majority of minors who are under arrest come form social-vulnerable or incomplete families, they manifest psychological disorders and have a low schooling degree.

The cited source mentions that besides statistics and analyze, the study offers solutions for humanizing conditions of minors who are in conflict with the law and for observing children's rights, among the most important being the application of alternative punishment as for example: probation (minor's supervision at large), labor in community's favor, involvement of minors in educational and re-socialization programs.