JUSTICE BEYOND AGE: THE NEED TO REFORM JUVENILE LAWS

Justice Beyond Age: The Need to Reform Juvenile Laws examines the evolving challenges confronting the juvenile justice system in the context of increasing involvement of minors in serious offences. While juvenile justice is traditionally founded on the principles of rehabilitation, reintegration, and the recognition that children possess greater capacity for reform than adults, recent incidents involving heinous crimes have raised concerns regarding the adequacy of existing legal frameworks. The blog critically analyses the strengths and limitations of India's Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, particularly its reliance on age as the primary determinant of criminal responsibility and the shortcomings in psychological assessment, victim participation, and rehabilitation infrastructure. It argues that meaningful reform should balance the rights of children with the interests of victims and society by adopting comprehensive psychological evaluations, strengthening rehabilitation programmes, promoting restorative justice, enhancing post-release support, and providing specialized training to stakeholders in the juvenile justice system. The article concludes that justice must extend beyond chronological age by embracing a nuanced, evidence-based approach that promotes accountability while preserving the rehabilitative spirit of juvenile justice.