US Attorney-General, Eric Holder, says placing children in solitary confinement "can be dangerous, and a serious impediment to the ability of juveniles to succeed once released."
Pennsylvania's highest court will review the long-debated prosecution of a Roman Catholic church official who was tried, imprisoned and then freed over his handling of priest sex-abuse complaints.
Vatican has faced sharp questioning by UN about whether it failed to abide by an international treaty against torture in its response to the sexual abuse of children by priests.
UN voices deep concern about a new regulation that effectively overturns a 60-year moratorium on the use of capital punishment and allows for children as young as seven to be sentenced to death for certain crimes.
Despite the UN voicing "deep concern" about the planned changes, country will introduce law on 1 May, with proposed punishments including the severing of limbs for theft.