JUVENILE JUSTICE IN INDIA

Abstract

Children are the future of our country and it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that they have a safe environment to live in. But the last decade has seen a huge leap in the rate of Juvenile crime in a developing country like India. Today, Juvenile crime is like a disease in our society. A child is born with innocence and if nurtured with tender care and attention, then they grow in positive way. Physical, mental, moral and spiritual development of the children makes them capable of realizing their fullest potential. On the opposite side, harmful surroundings, negligence of basic needs, wrong company and other abuses may turn a child to a delinquent i.e. a juvenile delinquent. ‘A child is an uncut diamond ‘it depends on the society how to shape an uncut diamond.  Juvenile delinquency means transmission of an innocent child in to a juvenile offender. Delinquency is because of broken families, adolescent, instability, labeling, gang culture, hunger, poverty, malnutrition and unemployment, lack of recreation, uncongenial homes etc. Observation homes, Shelter homes have been started by the government for the sake of such offenders then also the rate is continuously increasing day by day. For delinquent juvenile it is said that Prevention is better than cure juveniles should be protected from going to the wrong path.