Essay on Observation Homes for the Juveniles Offender in India !
The juveniles who need only a short-term custody during inquiry or trial are kept in an Observation Home. This institution is also used for the custody of undertrial children and juveniles in conflict with law about whom inquiry is pending or who are awaiting trial or removal to an appropriate Home or Borstal.
There are Children’s Homes for the treatment of neglected children for whom a short-term regulatory protective care is necessary but a long term residential training is not necessary. This reform has, however, not resolved the contradictory approaches of welfare and punishment which still persist. The focus in this institution is on strict discipline rather than constructive training. The system has, however, been subjected to severe criticism in Britain due to enormous increase in juvenile crimes in recent times.
Special Homes:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 also provides for setting up Special Homes for custody of delinquent juveniles. Basic amenities such as accommodation, medical care, education and vocational training are available to delinquent juveniles in these Homes.
Certified Schools:
The Certified Schools are a modified form of the nineteenth century Reformatories or Industrial Schools for homeless, destitute and delinquent children. These Schools are run under the State tutelage for catering to the needs of delinquent children of different age, sex and religion. The purpose of these approved Schools is to provide training to those juveniles who are unfit for release on probation.
The Schools are open-institutions where young offenders are educated and trained for normal living. The duration of stay and training in a Certified School varies according to inmate’s requirement depending on the discretion of the School administrator. This normally ranges from a minimum of six months to a maximum of three years. In practice, majority of inmates are released much earlier.
Certified Schools have warranted criticism from several quarters. The working of these institutions has been criticised on the ground that they are far more comfortable than even the homes of the delinquents. But it must not be forgotton that the loss of liberty in these institutions is in itself a heavy punishment.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
On the whole, more than two-thirds of the inmates return to normal life after their release from the institution. These schools provide training facilities for inmates to make them proficient in different trades so that they can engage themselves in some useful occupation.