Vol. 38, No. 4, December 2013 pp. 79-106 Addressing the Unmet Needs of Children and Youth in Detention in Trinidad and Tobago Wendell C. Wallace Lecturer, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago Abstract Children and youth who come into contact with the Criminal Justice system in Trinidad and Tobago and who are subsequently institutionalised at Industrial Homes and youth detention facilities are in need of high quality education, similar to that of other children. This is a requirement if they are to develop the core competencies and skills necessary for them to become positive contributing members of society. Sadly, this is an infrequent occurrence as many of these children and youth who are in the State’s care often demit the institutions without any academic skills or socio-emotional competencies to facilitate their survival in the twenty-irst century. This paper pays attention to the unmet educational needs of children and youth in detention in Trinidad and Tobago and makes suggestions on how to address these deiciencies. A new direction for public policy and planning regarding the unmet educational needs of children and youth in detention in Trinidad and Tobago is recommended from an ethical/theoretical standpoint as informed by global best practices and comparative international indings. Key words: unmet educational needs, children and youth, detention Copyright © Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, UWI, (Cave Hill), 2013