Page 510 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

one was a minor or a juvenile.

Reasons for Juvenile Crimes

The main reason for juvenile crimes is low moral values and poor
enforcement of laws. As no one is a born criminal, the circumstances make
one. Some of the most common causes that are associated with juvenile

crimes are poverty, drug abuse, anti-social peer group and the role of media.

In India, poverty is a major reason for juveniles getting involved in crimes.

Law for Juvenile Crimes

According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000, juveniles
may be kept in an ‘Observation Home’ while children who require care and

protection need to be kept in a ‘Children’s Home’ during the pendency of
proceedings before a competent authority.

A juvenile can be detained only for a maximum period of 3 years,

irrespective of the gravity of the offence committed and will be remanded to
‘Special Home’. Recently, due to an increase in major crimes, the
government has made major changes in the laws. They are:

It has been proposed that if a heinous crime is committed by a person in
the age group of 16 to 18 years, the Juvenile Justice Board will first

assess if the said crime was committed by that person as a ‘child’ or as

an ‘adult’.

The Juvenile Justice Board will have a psychologist and social experts
on it who would make sure that the rights of the juvenile are duly

protected if the crime was committed as a child.

The trial of the case shall proceed on the basis of the Board’s assessment

report that states whether the concerned juvenile has committed the
crime as a child or as an adult.