WALKING THE TIGHTROPE: JUVENILE JUSTICE REGIMES IN INDIA AND U.S.A.
By Iva Singh & Bhavvya Sharma
(Student, BBA. LL.B.(H), Lovely Professional University; Assistant Professor, School of Law, Lovely Professional University)
| Abstract A young demographic dividend is a double-edged sword. While on hand, it can be unlocked to garner an economic opportunity for the nation, it can also prove to have a debilitating impact resulting in breakdown of a society if not infused with affirmative actions. Juvenile Delinquency, as much as it is the cause of growing concern in societies worldwide owing to its disruptive and complex character, is undoubtedly one of the consequences of failing socio-economic and governance measures. India with its burgeoning youth population, is no exception to this phenomenon, with crimes ranging from petty offences to those which constitute extremely violent attributes that disarray the societal and legal fabric of a nation and raises myriad of doubts upon the scales of justice. The justice system has undergone tremendous reforms to yet again accommodate and at the same time demarcate them along the lines of nature of offenses or recurrences. The United States of America stands at par with India, retracting from its earlier rehabilitative approach which is antithetic to its developmental policies. The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of laws and policy measures between India and USA with respect to juveniles. Apart from understanding the factors responsible for their delinquent behaviour, this paper seeks to explore available jurisprudence and the interventionist role taken by both nations for their reintegration and prevention of “chronic offenders”. While drawing inferences from statistical data available at official sites, the finding of this analysis ascertains the existing gaps, reforms needed and draws a nexus with child rights, sustainable development goals and economic development. |
| Keywords Juvenile justice, Delinquency, Criminal Justice System, Restorative Justice, Sustainable Development Goal. |
| Type | Research Paper |
| Information | Lex Humanitariae: Journal for a Change, Volume III Issue I, Pages 296-309 |
| DOI Link | https://doi-ds.org/doilink/04.2022-78777424/lexhumanitariae/V3I1/A35 |
| ISSN | 2582-5216 |
| Creative Commons | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |
| Copyright | © 2022- Lex Humanitariae: Journal for a Change |