The problem of juvenile delinquency is challenging for every society.
The basic need is to turn the criminal instincts in children in a constructive direction, not through punishment, but through correction.
In view of these matters, the Constitution of India has made some legal provisions for children.
Some institutions have been set up in accordance with these provisions of the Constitution.
Which is managed by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The state government has been entrusted with the financial and administrative responsibilities of these institutions.
The following is an explanation of some of the important juvenile delinquency organizations:
1. Improvement schools:
In states where child laws are not in force, The Reformatory School has been established as per the provisions of the Reformative Schools Act, 1987.
The juvenile court sends the juvenile offender to a correctional school after the juvenile is found guilty.
If a juvenile offender under the age of 15 has committed a serious offense, he is kept in these schools for three to seven years.
These schools are run by the state government.
These schools have provisions to differentiate juvenile offenders according to different types of crime.
In these schools they are given education and vocational training.
All the facilities of a juvenile offender are preserved in this school.
Thus, correctional schools provide treatment and training to juvenile offenders so that they can be reorganized into society.
2. Certified Schools:
In the states where child laws are in force, Certified Schools are set up for the correction of juvenile offenders.
These schools work for the care, treatment and improvement of children.
In such certified schools, in addition to formal education, the child offender is imparted technical education and training with the aim of strengthening the spirit of discipline in him as well as re-organizing him in the society with dignity.
Offender children are kept in these schools for about three years.
If the school authorities feel that the child has improved, he or she may be released before the end of the sentence period.
If the child is mentally disturbed, he is kept in these schools for a longer period of time.
There are two types of certified schools:
(1) Junior Certified School: In which juvenile offenders below 12 years of age are kept.
(2) Senior Certified School: In which juvenile offenders from 12 to 16 years are kept.
Certified schools are run by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
After releasing a juvenile offender from a certified school, the task of supervising him is assigned to a social worker or probation officer. It monitors the activities of juvenile delinquents.
Certified schools are affiliated with remand homes.
3. Foster homes:
Juvenile offenders under the age of 10 are kept in foster homes.
After the age of 10 they are sent to certified schools.
Attempts are made to create a family-like atmosphere in foster homes.
Foster homes are run by private social organizations.
The government provides financial assistance to such houses.
4. Remand Home:
The Child Protection Home (Remand Home) works to protect the juvenile offender.
A juvenile offender is produced in juvenile court within 24 hours of being caught under a crime.
He is being held in a remand home until his investigation is completed.
Before the investigation of a crime committed by a juvenile offender begins, it is monitored and classified in a remand home.
Information on the life of a juvenile offender kept in a remand home is scientifically studied and his life is compiled.
Based on this, the responsible causes for the crime have to be found and it has to be directed in the right direction through child welfare programs.
Each remand home has a probation officer. This officer tries to understand the juvenile offender and is obliged to treat him appropriately.
The juvenile offender is kept here even if the court investigation lasts a long time.
He is kept in a remand home even after the juvenile court has confirmed the juvenile delinquency.
In a remand home, the juvenile offender is kept under the necessary supervision and action is taken to improve his behavior and character.
The remand home is largely run by private and social welfare organizations.
The government provides financial assistance to such houses.
5. Juvenile Court:
A juvenile court has been set up for children below 16 years of age.
The juvenile court environment is informal and sympathetic.
The elder is not allowed to argue in the proceedings of this court.
Special judges are appointed for juvenile courts.
They are knowledgeable in child psychology.
All juvenile court proceedings are kept confidential.
The first juvenile court in India was established in 1941 in Kolkata.