NCJ Number
68977
Journal
Social Defence Volume: 15 Issue: 58 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 16-31
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
CURRENT TRENDS IN U.S. JUVENILE JUSTICE PHILOSOPHY, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN INDIA, AND PRESENT INDIAN JUVENILE OFFENDER LAWS ARE REVIEWED; AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CONTINUING PROBLEMS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
AMERICAN IDEAS REGARDING NON-INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS AND THE SEPARATION OF JUVENILE FROM ADULT OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED. THEN, DELINQUENCY IN INDIA IS PRESENTED AS LARGELY A PROBLEM OF CHILDREN IN THE LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC BRACKETS WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF BASIC FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH. IN THE EARLY 1920'S, THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SEPARATE JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM WERE LAID, AND IN 1960 THE STATE CHILDREN ACTS PROVIDED FOR JUVENILE COURTS TO DECIDE IN CASES INVOLVING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND FOR CHILD WELFARE BOARDS TO WORK OUT ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DISPOSITION OF STATUS OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, MANY DELINQUENTS AND STATUS OFFENDERS ARE STILL COMMITTED INAPPROPRIATELY TO JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR TO ADULT PENAL FACILITIES BECAUSE (1) MANY STATES HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE COURTS OR BOARDS, (2) EXISTING JUVENILE COURTS DO NOT HAVE COMPETENT JUDGES, AND (3) VERY FEW COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE. THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WOULD INVOLVE THE CORRECTION OF THE SOCIAL SITUATIONS WHICH LEAD TO CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT OR STATUS OFFENSES, AND THE STRENGTHENING OF THE FAMILY, THE SCHOOL, AND RELIGION. IMMEDIATE NON-INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES OF DELINQUENCY CONTROL WOULD INCLUDE (1) JUVENILE AID BUREAUS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN LIVING UNDER MISERABLE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SURROUNDINGS; (2) NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FOR DELINQUENCY CONTROL; (3) A JUVENILE-AID POLICE WING; (4) MORE COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES; (5) MORE FREQUENT USE OF PROBATION; (6) AN END TO SENDING CHILDREN TO JAILS; (7) VIGOROUS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHILDREN ACTS; AND (8) IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA RELATING TO THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. TWENTY-ONE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.