Over the years, juvenile delinquency has emerged to become a matter of pressing concern all over the world. The sensitivity that comes with this issue acts as a major deterrent to arriving at any potent solution to curb or even lessen the alarmingly growing rates of juvenile crime. Though some countries have efficiently brought down juvenile crime rates, it still stands at an all time high for many others, including India.
The extent of punishment for a criminal act depends upon the severity of the crime committed. Most juvenile crimes committed are relatively negligible crimes and the accused are usually let off the hook, with little or no retribution, which in itself acts as a catalyst to repeatedly offend. But the offenders committing major crimes are usually the only ones treated to substantial punishment.A vital part of the retribution process for a juvenile offender is being sent to a juvenile detention center for a specified period of time. A juvenile detention center acts as both a prison and rehab for the accused. This is also the place where a major part of the problem arises. Many youngsters who are sent to juvenile detention centers come out to commit more serious crimes, despite all the rehab programs they've taken part in. A rehabilitation center is meant to bring mental stability to a person's mind. But is that what a juvenile detention center truly does?
In a juvenile detention center, offenders of the same kind are forced to stay in the confinements of the building with each other. To re-adapt a person to better conditions there needs to be an all round positive influence on them, which a juvenile detention center doesn't provide. It in fact does the exact inverse. Psychological studies state that juvenile detention centers increase the prospect of recidivism among many. When several like minded people are placed in the same environment, they are likely to get along well. They'll tend to promote each other's ideologies and will also pick up on one another's traits. And that is exactly what happens in a detention center as well. Apart from brief interactions the delinquents have during the day with their handlers, they are mostly in each other's company. During the course of each day, they interact with each other the most. Thus, depending upon the influence they receive, certain young individuals may be pushed to further engage in illicit behaviour, leaving little to no room for any self reflection or rectification to occur.Research reveals that juvenile delinquents who are permitted to stay in their habitual environment under strict monitoring, respond well to steps taken for their mental betterment. One-on-one counselling has been suggested as an effective method of bringing slow but steady change in a teen's mind.
The youth are the future of a nation. And the future should always be planned to be prodigious. But in this case, the foundation in itself is frail. There needs to be a major change in approach towards juvenile crime to bring about a significant change. But until this transition begins to take place, the unfortunate truth remains that juvenile crime stands as a persistent cause for sizable concern.
To conclude, we would like to leave off with a quote that has been stated by Swami Vivekananda about the youth:
"Practice Virtue, persevere in virtue. Become Established in virtue.Shine as an embodiment of noblest virtue and heroic adherence to goodness.Youth is meant for this grand process.Youth life is the active development and fulfillment of these processes.YOUTH IS THE FUTURE."
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