Juvenile Delinquency is one of the most important
problems. It exhibits a specific pattern of behaviour and involves any wrong doing
by a child or a young person who is under the age limit as specified by law.
As per the section 2(k) of the Juvenile Justice (Care
and Protection of Children) Act 2000, a juvenile is a person who has not
completed 18 years of age. ‘Juvenile in conflict with law’ means a juvenile who
is alleged to have committed an offence. He/she is also called a juvenile
delinquent. A delinquent is an under aged person who is guilty of anti social
act and whose misconduct is an attraction of law.
A juvenile delinquent is a person who breaks the law,
is a vagrant, and persists in disobeying orders and whose behaviour endangers
the moral well being of his own as well as of the others. Delinquency is a type
of abnormality which may not be regarded as a criminal behaviour; however
juvenile delinquency is injurious for children and is thus prohibited.
There are various opinions expressed regarding this behaviour
such as bad company, adolescent instability, mental and emotional conflicts,
social suggestibility, motion pictures, poor recreation, vocational dissatisfaction,
and physical conditions. However, explanation of delinquency in terms of living
in slums, broken homes, films, or moral deprivation etc. have failed to provide
a comprehensive regarding this issue.
For the purpose of eradicating juvenile delinquency,
the government has established and maintained institutions of observation homes
and special homes with all facilities for the temporary reception of any child
in case of a conflict with the law. The government has recognised reputed and
capable voluntary organizations and provided them assistance to set up and
administer as many shelter homes for children or juveniles as may be required.
