{"id":120600,"date":"2024-07-18T19:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T14:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=120600"},"modified":"2024-07-19T17:48:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T12:18:42","slug":"trying-juveniles-as-adults-is-not-the-answer","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/trying-juveniles-as-adults-is-not-the-answer","title":{"rendered":"Trying Juveniles As Adults Is Not The Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Juvenile justice <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has been a matter of great concern for policymakers, judges, and the public for many years. In recent years, the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/trying-juveniles-as-adults\/\">trend of trying juveniles as adults has increased<\/a>, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and many are questioning the wisdom of this approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the <\/span><b>Bombay High Court said that the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act is \u201cnot only a beneficial legislation, but is also a remedial one.\u201d\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>About Juvenile Justice System<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juvenile Justice System is the most progressive and enlightened system adopted by the world citizenry with<\/span><b> all round growth of children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prime Focus: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reform the deviants and provide care to the unprotected child. As far as practicable, a child to be rehabilitated and restored to the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Followed Doctrine:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The special court to adopt the doctrine of <\/span><b><i>parens patriae<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while adjudicating the matter of child in conflict with the law.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b><i>Parens patriae<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is Latin for &#8220;parent of the country or homeland&#8221;. Under parens patriae, a <\/span><b>state or court has a paternal and protective role <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over its citizens or others subject to its jurisdiction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Trial for Juvenile as an Adult: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case is transferred before the children\u2019s court. As per <\/span><b>Section 19<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the amended Act, the court can pass a decision on whether there is a need for trial of the child as an adult, or otherwise.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Age Bar:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A children\u2019s court has to ensure that the child in conflict with the law is sent to <\/span><b>a \u201cplace of safety\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">until he reaches the <\/span><b>age of 21 years,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is only then transferred to jail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Protection: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court can also order the conditional release of the child after he attains the age of 21 years.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two important protections, <\/span><b>protection from disqualification,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>erasure of conviction record <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">after a reasonable period do not extend to a child who has been tried as an adult.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Punishment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If the child is tried as an adult, <\/span><b>the sentence can go up to life imprisonment,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but if the child is tried by the board as <\/span><b>a juvenile, the maximum sentence can only be three years in a special home.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>On Statistics: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/ncrb-report-2022\/\"> National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)<\/a> publishes yearly data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the number of crimes committed by Juveniles in its Crime in India Reports.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The NCRB data reveals <\/span><b>a notable trend from 2013 to 2022. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this period, the <\/span><b>number of reported crimes decreased from 43,506 to 30,555 marking a reduction of 12,951 crimes,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which accounts for <\/span><b>approximately 30% in 10 years.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Constitutional Provisions Relevant to Juvenile Justice in India<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following provisions are dealt by the Indian Constitution with respect to Juveniles:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 15(3): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It empowers the state to enact special provisions for children, exemplified by legislations like the JJ Act, 2015, and Right to Education Act, 2009.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 39(e) and (f):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> These Directive Principles of State Policy ensure child welfare.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Article 39(e)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> safeguards children from economic exploitation, upheld by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Article 39(f) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensures children\u2019s healthy development and protection against exploitation, reflected in the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Article 45: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially it aimed at free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years, but after the 86th Amendment Act, it focused on early childhood care and education up to 6 years, reinforced by the Right to Education Act, 2009.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>About Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, a juvenile is a person less than 18 years of age. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, addresses children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Categorisation of Offences:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Into three categories \u2014 <\/span><b>petty offences, serious offences, and heinous offences.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act provides for trying juveniles in the age group of 16-18 as adults in cases of heinous offences.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Juvenile Justice Boards: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act provides for <\/span><b>one or more Juvenile Justice Boards to be constituted in every district.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Comprises: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>Judicial magistrate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the first class and <\/span><b>two social workers <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of whom<\/span><b> at least one should be a woman.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Child Welfare Committee: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act provides for <\/span><b>one or more<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Child Welfare Committees to be constituted <\/span><b>in every district <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which consists of <\/span><b>One Chairperson and 4 other members<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of whom <\/span><b>at least 1 should be a woman<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and another, an expert on the matters concerning children.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Mandate: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Committee is responsible for <\/span><b>restoring abandoned or lost children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to their families, <\/span><b>declaring them legally free for adoption,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> taking <\/span><b>suo-moto cognizance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of cases, taking action for <\/span><b>rehabilitation of sexually abused children,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> coordinating with <\/span><b>agencies involved in the care and protection of children, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>On Adoption: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act streamlined adoption procedures for orphans, abandoned and surrendered children and the<\/span><b> existing Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has been given the status of a statutory body <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to enable it to perform its function more effectively.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Commitment towards Global Conventions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Act fulfils India\u2019s commitment as<\/span><b> a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Inter-country Adoption (1993),<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other related international instruments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Implementation Agency: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is under a <\/span><b>statutory obligation under the JJ Act <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to monitor the proper implementation of the provisions of the Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Amendment: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2021,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the Parliament passed The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2021 which amended the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Provisions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amendments include<\/span><b> authorising District Magistrate including Additional District Magistrate to issue adoption orders under the JJ Act,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in order to <\/span><b>ensure speedy disposal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of cases and <\/span><b>enhance accountability.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"3\"><b>Previously, civil courts oversaw this process.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.151%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>Other Legal Frameworks for the Welfare of Children<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Following provisions also dealt with the Juveniles and their protection in India:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/age-of-consent-under-pocso\/\">Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2013<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/end-to-child-labour\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Child Labour (Protection and Regulation) Act, 2016<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/un-guidance-call-to-protect-childrens-rights\/#:~:text=UN%20convention%20on%20rights%20of,water%20and%20survival%20and%20development.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">United Nation Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/national-commission-for-protection-of-child-rights\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, 2005<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>On Being tried Juvenile as an Adult<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The JJ Act allows for the possibility of trying adolescents <\/span><b>above 16 as adults<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if they are accused of committing a<\/span><b> \u201cheinous\u201d offence.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Prior to the 2015 amendment in the original JJ Act, all children below the age of 18 years were treated as juveniles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Offence Committed: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A \u201cheinous\u201d offence is one with a <\/span><b>minimum punishment of seven years or more.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offences such as culpable homicide and causing death by negligence, which are common in drunken driving cases, are not \u201cheinous\u201d offences because they do not have a prescribed minimum punishment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The JJ Act,<\/span><b> amended in 2021,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> now categorises an offence that has<\/span><b> no minimum sentence but has a maximum sentence of more than seven years as a \u201cserious offence\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which, nonetheless, does not merit the transfer of a case to the adult criminal justice system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Assessment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to <\/span><b>Section 15<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in any case, when an adolescent above 16 years of age is accused of a \u201cheinous\u201d offence, the <\/span><b>JJB, a quasi-judicial body, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">conducts a preliminary assessment to determine if they should be tried as an adult.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it concludes that there is such a need, the <\/span><b>adolescent is transferred to a sessions court, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which<\/span><b> independently assesses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the suitability of trying the adolescent as an adult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These protections are based on the understanding that <\/span><b>adolescence is a temporary developmental stage characterised by immature judgement and underdeveloped impulse control.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Time Framework: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The assessment is required to be done <\/span><b>within three months<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the date of first production of the child before the JJB.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Assistance from Experts: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court also said that when the JJB does not comprise a practising professional with a degree in child psychology or child psychiatry, it would have to<\/span><b> mandatorily seek<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the assistance of experts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Associated Judgement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The above protections are recognised by the Supreme Court in<\/span><b> Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. Raju (2014)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and by the <\/span><b>UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequently, the juvenile justice system<\/span><b> emphasises rehabilitation and social reintegration over punishment, acknowledging that adolescents,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> due to their high neuroplasticity, are more receptive to change.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.201%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><strong>About the Recent Case of India<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In May this year, a speeding car, allegedly driven by a teenager, killed two young techies in Pune.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Action Taken:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Initially, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) granted him bail with easy conditions but after public outrage and pressure, they directed the adolescent\u2019s detention in an Observation Home.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bombay High Court, however, released him again, saying <\/span><b>the bail is in accordance with due procedure.<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Due Process of Law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a doctrine that not only checks if there is a law to deprive the life and personal liberty of a person but also ensures that the law is made fair and just.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Demand For: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The push by some to prosecute the adolescent as an adult raises broader questions about the power of the juvenile justice system to address severe offences like drunken driving and the demand for<\/span><b> accountability in cases involving young offenders.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Arguments in Favour of Trying Juveniles as Adults<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Juveniles are sane enough to differentiate between good and bad. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therefore, children can commit crimes as they have decided to choose the wrong path.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Seriousness of the Crime:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Proponents of trying juveniles as adults argue that some crimes are so serious that the perpetrator, regardless of age, should be held accountable in the adult criminal justice system such as juvenile in Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case, 2012.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They believe that trying juveniles as adults is a necessary step in ensuring that violent and dangerous criminals are punished and <\/span><b>held accountable for their actions.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Safety: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juveniles who have committed serious crimes are often considered a high risk of re-offend, and many believe that trying them as adults will <\/span><b>reduce this risk and protect the public from future harm.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>For Deterrence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The threat of being tried as an adult will deter juveniles from committing serious crimes, thereby <\/span><b>reducing the number of crimes committed by minors.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Arguments Against trying Juveniles as Adults<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trying adolescents as adults<\/span><b> sidesteps the problem of weak implementation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of the juvenile justice system. The issue lies not in the perceived leniency or \u201cmisuse\u201d of the system, but rather in the failure to fully implement its foundational principles.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lack of Maturity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Juveniles are not fully developed and lack the maturity of adults. They are less able to understand the consequences of their actions and that they should be given a chance to reform and change their ways.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rehabilitation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juvenile justice systems are designed to provide rehabilitation and education, whereas adult criminal justice systems are primarily focused on punishment.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The adult criminal justice system is not equipped to provide the rehabilitation and education that juveniles need.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Permanent Consequences: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The consequences of being tried as an adult can be permanent and have a devastating impact on the juvenile\u2019s future.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A criminal record <\/span><b>can limit job opportunities <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and make it <\/span><b>difficult<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a juvenile to <\/span><b>reintegrate into society.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To achieve the positive gain on this juvenile justice front, there is a<\/span><b> need for proper implementation of the juvenile justice system <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">along with following measures:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Focus on Accountability and Rehabilitation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The juvenile justice system is rooted in<\/span><b> holding offenders accountable for their actions.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When an adolescent is found to have committed a crime, the JJ Act <\/span><b>empowers the multidisciplinary JJB<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to tailor a <\/span><b>response befitting the circumstances and the adolescent concerned. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A conviction can result in institutionalisation of the offender, but with the express goal of rehabilitation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Individual Care Plan: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The JJBs can prescribe interventions such as<\/span><b> therapy, psychiatric support, and de-addiction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during and after institutionalisation.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An individual care plan is prepared for the adolescent\u2019s rehabilitation keeping in mind their <\/span><b>socioeconomic conditions and the circumstances of the crime.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach has the <\/span><b>potential to foster accountability and healing, creating opportunities for justice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that are often unattainable within the rigid confines of the punitive adult justice system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inclusion of Innovative Approaches: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India can adopt various innovative processes as followed in US and Indonesia such as practising<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">victim impact panel (VIP).<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Specifically in cases of deaths caused by motor accidents,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> innovative approaches have been attempted in Indonesia and the US that enable offenders to face their victims and <\/span><b>focus on personal accountability.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some jurisdictions, <\/span><b>convicted drunk drivers are required to face a victim impact panel (VIP) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of relatives of victims who express how the incident affected their lives.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A report released in 2022 by Kevin Thompson and Sarah Joyce found a <\/span><b>reduction in recidivism amongst offenders exposed to VIPs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in North Dakota.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While this can never change the life-altering incident itself, it <\/span><b>personalises the loss and grief experienced by the victim <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and gives an opportunity to the<\/span><b> offender to express regret.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Acknowledgement of Responsibility:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> New followed practices in the World like VIPs recognise the victim and their family as central to the process of justice dispensation create space for the needs of the victims that may range from compensation to an apology or explanation or acknowledgement of responsibility by the offender.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach recognises tha<\/span><b>t crime is often the outcome of a complex interplay of societal and psychological factors.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family and Community Involvement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engaging families and communities to support a nurturing environment for juveniles that can address the underlying causes of delinquency, aiding reintegration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Educational and Vocational Training:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Access to education and vocational skills equips juveniles for post-rehabilitation life, reducing reoffending risks by providing legitimate livelihood avenues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Psychological Support and Counseling:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Addressing mental health through counselling is vital, as many juveniles in conflict suffer from untreated psychological issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community-Based Programs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Involvement in community service fosters responsibility and belonging. It also serves restorative justice by allowing juveniles to make amends.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Children are the future resources of the country.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> They must be<\/span><b> transformed from negative to positive <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">personalities. Critics argue that the system sometimes fails to fully apply its foundational principles, focusing inadequately on rehabilitation and accountability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trying juveniles as adults is seen as to bypass the core issues of systemic inefficiency, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which underscores the need for a more robust and consistently applied juvenile justice system that <\/span><b>truly balances the goals of rehabilitation and public safety.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.201%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Global Practises for Juveniles:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Beijing Rules:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In <\/span><b>1985, the UN General Assembly <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adopted the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the <\/span><b>Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, mandating member states to refrain from fixing the low minimum age of criminal responsibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>India is also a signatory <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to the Convention on the Rights of Child, 1990, which defines a child to be aged below 18.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Focus On:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The rules emphasise factoring in <\/span><b>emotional, mental, and intellectual maturity.\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>prohibit capital punishment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for juveniles but <\/span><b>do not advocate leniency in dealing with offenders in serious cases.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Canada:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Youth Criminal Justice Act of 2002 provides for criminal justice in the<\/span><b> 12-18 age<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> group. This law has special provisions for a young person who commits <\/span><b>a \u201cserious offence\u201d punishable with over five-year imprisonment.\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Provisions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It defines <\/span><b>\u201cserious violent offences\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as<\/span><b> first<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>second-degree murder, manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, and attempted murder.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For<\/span><b> violent and serious crimes, the punishment cannot exceed the maximum punishment <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">awarded to adults for the same offence.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides for <\/span><b>a Youth Justice Court to order the mental and psychological assessment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for deciding on an application to sentence a young person as an adult.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>The UK: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The law in the UK provides that juveniles, especially those <\/span><b>under 15, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should be tried as far as possible by the Youth Court while reserving trial in the Crown Court for serious cases. It makes <\/span><b>a distinction for first-time offenders aged 12-14 and those under 12 years.<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Punishment: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act, 2000, a person <\/span><b>below 18 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">convicted of a serious offence may be sentenced to a period not exceeding the maximum term of imprisonment for adults. This includes a life sentence as well.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The young offenders are kept in<\/span><b> separate institutions and not jails. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sentence exceeding two years in respect of youth aged 12-17 years and accused of a grave offence is made only when such a sentence is a <\/span><b>\u201crealistic possibility\u201d.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>The US:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The age of majority in the US is 18. But the high rate of juvenile offences permits nearly all states to try persons <\/span><b>under 18 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as adults with suitable exceptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Provisions: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>California,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> persons older than <\/span><b>14<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be tried as adults for committing crimes such as rape, robbery or murder.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>New York<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the age of juvenility is fixed at <\/span><b>16<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> years. This permits persons aged between 13-16 to be tried as adults.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Discretion of Judge: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A judge has the discretion to waive jurisdiction and transfer a case to the adult criminal courts for serious offences.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In<\/span><b> Florida, discretion is given to the state prosecutor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to decide whether a juvenile is to be tried as an adult.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.128%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 138.014%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Must Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Daily Editorials<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.4782%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.4782%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.4782%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UPSC Test Series 2024<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50.5357%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.4782%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 138.014%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Juvenile justice has been a matter of great concern for policymakers, judges, and the public for many years. In recent years, the trend of trying juveniles as adults has increased, and many are questioning the wisdom of this approach. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":120949,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2088],"subject":[2125],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/120600"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120600"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/120600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120808,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/120600\/revisions\/120808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120600"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=120600"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=120600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}