NCJ Number
164970
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This overview of Egypt's juvenile justice system provides a historical overview and discusses juvenile delinquency as viewed by the law, socioeconomic and political changes that have impacted juvenile justice, changes in delinquency, and felonies committed by juveniles.
Abstract
In Egypt, the first step in dealing with juvenile delinquents is to call in the juvenile police, i.e., police who deal primarily with offenses committed by juveniles. Juvenile police stations have been established in various parts of the country, and delinquents are first processed at these stations. The next step is the juvenile court, where trials are held and sentences imposed. Dispositions such as assignment to an educational institute or rehabilitation institute or placement on probation depend on the seriousness of the offense. Currently juvenile delinquency is a serious problem in Egypt, due largely to socioeconomic and political changes that have undermined moral values and family influence on children. Juvenile offenses are primarily theft, violence (assaults), and supply crimes (any offense related to survival needs, especially food). As the seriousness of juvenile crimes has increased, imprisonment for a definite period has increased. For first convictions of drug distribution, juveniles are imprisoned for 10 years. Although the law applicable to juveniles is designed to protect them and to apply the principles of social defense, the increased seriousness of juvenile crimes has led to a more punitive approach. 15 references and appended directory of juvenile agencies