Navigating Juvenile Delinquency: Rights & Rehabilitation
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Eshanya Mishra & Utkarsh Singhal, Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
ABSTRACT
Children are the future of the country. It is the duty of the society to ensure that they have a safe and friendly environment to live in. As per the statistics, Juvenile delinquency in India has emerged as a distressing social reality, with a notable surge in violent and organized crimes committed by minors. Despite legislative advancements like the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, systemic gaps persist in addressing the root causes and rehabilitating juvenile offenders. This paper critically examines juvenile delinquency as a multidimensional issue shaped by social environment, psychological distress, and institutional failures. It delves into the theoretical underpinnings of deviant youth behaviour by applying Agnew’s Strain Theory, Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory, and Labelling Theory each revealing how emotional strain, learned criminality, and societal stigma contribute to delinquent outcomes.
The paper takes learnings from the case laws, empirical data, and international standards such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and highlights major legal and procedural deficiencies, including the arbitrary trial of juveniles as adults, lack of trained personnel, and inadequate child-friendly infrastructure. It also underscores the psychological consequences of repeated court appearances and stigmatizing treatment.
In order to bridge these gaps, the study proposes targeted reforms such as individualized rehabilitation based on criminogenic assessments, gender- sensitive facilities, use of virtual testimonies, community-led interventions, and technological innovations in trial processes. Delinquents usually come from families where there is tension and difficulty to express sin relationships. Due to the proliferation of juvenile crime rates, necessary steps should be taken and amendments should be made in the present law to be enacted and enforced in a strict manner.
Keywords: juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice act 2015, theory, legal reform, child rights.
