Juvenile Delinquency in India- Latest Trends and Entailing Amendments in Juvenile Justice Act

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency is a serious offence and it is detrimental for the social order in any country.There is a trend of increase in juvenile crimes world-over, with

Personality Profiling of Juvenile Delinquents through Thematic Apperception Test

“…A "juvenile" is an individual who is above the minimum age of criminal responsibility (varies internationally), below the age of criminal maturity and is legally able to commit a criminal offense. [12] In India, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, proposes "any person under the age of 18" to be considered a child [13] and the age of criminal responsibility to be at 7 years. [12] "Delinquent" is defined as a person who is found guilty, [14] while delinquency is the act of being involved in behaviors which are in conflict with the law by a minor.…”

“…[12] In India, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, proposes "any person under the age of 18" to be considered a child [13] and the age of criminal responsibility to be at 7 years. [12] "Delinquent" is defined as a person who is found guilty, [14] while delinquency is the act of being involved in behaviors which are in conflict with the law by a minor. Thus, the concept of juvenile delinquency can be stated as when a child or young person is at fault of some offense or antisocial behavior or the demeanor of child is beyond parental control.…”

“…In this context, the social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency may be the distorted family structure, poor educational background, lower social class, and influence of gangs and drug peddlers. [12] Further, the ongoing process of urbanization in developing countries with increased population density and degree of heterogeneity may have weakened the primary social relations, control, and cohesion that once existed in the society. These new patterns may influence the involvement of juveniles in criminal behavior.…”

“…In the present world, the changing process of social relations is challenging the traditional guiding patterns of relationship and transitions between family, school, and work. The lifestyle trajectories are becoming less predictable, thus, influencing the transition from childhood to adolescence, and then, adulthood resulting in an upsurge in the cases of juvenile delinquency [12] that provokes an analysis of the underlying psyche of such offenders. Although literature deals with the judicial acts and provisions proposed to provide a healthy and growing environment for the children in conflict with law, the psychological evaluation of offenders may be an additional technique which is yet to be implemented.…”

Exploring Parental Risk Factors in the Development of Delinquency Among Children

“…A juvenile delinquent refers to a child who is 18 years or below and has committed crime/offense such as theft, murder, rape, drugrelated crimes, or any other antisocial behavior. According to Section 83 of IPC, 1860 -" nothing is an offense done by a child between 7 and 12 years, who has not attained sufficient maturity to judge the nature and consequences of his/her conduct, and did not know that what he/she was doing was wrong" (as cited in Agarwal, 2018). Juvenile delinquents are thus, children who are in their teens or adolescent phase i.e.…”