The Juvenile Justice Act is a legal framework designed for children under 18 years who are accused of committing crimes. They focus more on shaping the child by putting them in rehabilitation centres instead of punishing them so that they could have a better future as they are still developing. The Juvenile Justice Act provides a second chance for the young individuals unlike the adult criminal justice system.The main goal of this act is to create a safe and stable society for everyone.
How does the Juvenile Justice Act work?
When a crime is committed and a juvenile is a suspect, they are taken into custody and if the offense is not severe, they are able to get bailed by their parents or guardians. The Juvenile Detention Center is where the suspect is sent if the offense is serious. There is a Diversion Program for minor crimes where they receive counseling, education, and community services instead of legal penalties. If the case goes to the court, the juvenile judge analyses the evidence and makes the decision keeping the society as well as the juvenile in mind as to what is best for both. They can get sentences for probation, educational programs, or placement in juvenile detention facilities but in a few cases, juveniles have also been tried as adults if the crime is too severe. The Juvenile Justice Act is very keen to send such offenders to rehabilitation centers so that they can improve and will be able to fit into society without causing any harm to anyone.
Also read : Mukesh v. State For NCT of Delhi: Analysis of the Nirbhaya Case
Key Principles of Juvenile Justice
One of the very important principles of juvenile justice is giving the offender a chance to change their behavior and attitude by putting them into rehabilitation since they are still developing emotionally and mentally. They try to make them understand what is better for them instead of punishing them. The System is based on the idea of making decisions while keeping the child’s well-being in mind. They should consider what is best for the child in the long run and provide them with the help that they need such as support from family or mental health treatment. Another principle is that they should be kept away from the adults because they have different needs compared to adults so the Juvenile Justice System made sure to have separate courts, detention facilities, and rehab programs for minors.
Problems faced by the Juvenile Justice System
The System faces a lot of challenges as it is hard to manage young offenders and keep them from committing any more crimes. It is a challenge for them to balance between holding them accountable and helping them get better. People are often disappointed when the crime is serious and the state still focuses on the rehabilitation system instead of taking strict actions. The next issue is Overcrowding in these centers. There is a lack of space, staff, and resources which impacts the child as they are not getting the care and attention that they need to improve. This tends to make the juvenile’s behaviors worse than earlier because of the poor living and creates stress for the staff as well. One very common symptom found in most young offenders is Mental health issues which include past trauma. However, the system sometimes cannot help them with this because of poor management. After the juveniles are done serving, they find it hard to settle back to their normal life as they don’t have a proper education, or job experience and also face pressure from society which might make them commit crimes again.
Cases Involving the Juveniles
One of the cases that shook the world was the “Slenderman Stabbing” case where 2 girls, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her fatally 19 times. Fortunately, she was able to crawl back to a trail and was found by a bicyclist. This case raised many questions about mental health and whether such severe crimes committed by children should automatically be tried as adults. Geyser was suffering from schizophrenia and was given 40 years in a mental health facility and Weiner was found to have a delusional disorder and was given 25 years in a mental health facility.
In 2012, there was a gangrape in Delhi, also known as the Nirbhaya Case, which included 6 convicts out of which one was a juvenile. He was 17 years old at that time but his actions were as violent as the others but he was still not tried as an adult as per the laws. He was sentenced to Three years in a juvenile detention center where he could get the proper treatment and also this was the maximum punishment under the Indian law that could be given. This made the public angry in every way possible. This still remains a topic for debate, challenging India’s approach to justice for minors who are involved in crimes like these.
Conclusion
The Juvenile justice Act is an important framework which protects the young offenders and helps them get their life back together. The Act prioritizes Rehabilitation over punishment, giving the children a chance to reform through education, counselling and support. While the challenges still persist, The Juvenile Justice Act aims to create a more safe and just society.
Also read : The Royal British Bank V. Turquand Case Summary: Doctrine of Indoor Management
FAQ
1. What is the Juvenile Justice Act?
It is a law in many countries that handles cases which involve children and teenagers who commit crimes
2. What happens when a juvenile commits a crime?
They go through some legal procedures. Instead of being tried in adult courts, they are usually tried in juvenile courts. The focus is to understand what made them commit such crimes and get them the help that they need.
3. Can a juvenile be tried as an adult?
Yes, in some rare cases where the juvenile has committed a serious crime, they can be tried as adults, for example, The slenderman stabbing.