Reformative Theory: Juvenile Justice System In India

Asmi Devrani and Bhoomika Bharti, Vivekananda School of Law and Legal Studies, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Pitampura, Delhi

"An eye for an eye, leaves everyone blind." – Mahatma Gandhi

ABSTRACT

Every country views adolescent misbehaviour as a serious transgression that threatens societal order. There is a global increase in juvenile crimes, and young people are increasingly participating in violent crimes. In India, there are similar trends of a growth in the number of violent crimes committed by young people. It's a big problem for the nation, and coming up with a solution will take careful thought. In reaction to these developments, the Indian judicial system and legal code modified the nation's juvenile justice laws.

Due to technological advancements, children are learning things at a young age that they should be learning at a mature level. Since juvenile offenders are not hard-core criminals, the major goal of their punishment should be to transform them from antisocial individuals into responsible citizens by extracting all of their antisocial traits.

The four theories of punishment are reformative, preventive, deterrent, and retributive. When it comes to adolescent offenders, the reformative philosophy works best for both their personal and societal well-being. This research paper examines the status in India and applies reformative theory to it.

Keywords: Delinquency, Juvenile, Reformative Theory