360 Degree: Juvenile Justice Bill - The age-old issue

THE AGE-OLD ISSUE

• What if tomorrow a 14-year-old commits a crime, wonder experts
• Bill does nothing at all to develop the institution of juvenile justice
• Activists rue that no effort is done to transform victims to survivors

Read: Parliamentarians and patriarchal mindsets (by Flavia Agnes)

Also Read: Regressive reform (by Dr Nagarathna A.)

Over 38,000 cases registered against juveniles in 2014

• A total of 38,565 cases were registered against juveniles in conflict with law for cognisable crimes under Indian Penal Code — Special Law and Local Law in 2014
• 31,973 cases were registered against juveniles in 2012
• 35,861 cases were registered in 2013.

Also Read: No second chance for hardened criminals (by Ranjana Kumari)

Poor financial background

Annual income of juvenile families up to Rs 25,000

Age factor: Juvenile age varies all over the world

The legal age of criminal responsibility is -

• Germany: 14
• Australia: 10
• Italy:  14-18
• India: Now, 16
• Australia, Philippines, Brazil, Croatia, and Colombia: A minor is defined as a person under the age of 18