Madhusoodan MK,TNN | Jan 5, 2014, 08.18 PM IST

BANGALORE: ECHO, a city-based non-government organization (NGO) working since last 14 years in the field of child protection, rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of child offenders, will release a research work, "Juvenile Crimes- A Peep into Reality" at a function at CHO Special Home in Sumanahalli, off Magadi Road on January 6. 

The research work is done by the NGO in collaboration with Department of Women and Child Development and UNICEF, India, said Father Anthony Sebastion O Praem, founder and executive director, ECHO-centre for juvenile justice. 

"As far as the implementation of Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act is concerned the ground reality is bleak. A large number of juveniles have continuously denied justice throughout till their attainment of 18 years of age. A small sample study on juveniles in conflict with law in the year 2000 was the inspiration to take a research of a bigger sample size in order to establish certain facts with regards to juveniles and ECHO is being shared with DWCD and UNICEF and both came forward to commission it," he said. 

The ECHO founder said that the lowering the age of juvenile as child offenders from 18 to 16 is a burning issue in India especially after the notorious rape case in Delhi. 

"The objectives of the research are to understand better, the causes that lead children and adolescents to criminal and anti-social activities. The research also aimed to looking at the responsiveness of the stakeholders of JJ Act implementation. 2500 profiles of juveniles in conflict with law were collected from Juvenile Justice Board and among these case studies 50 case studies were prepared in details to give an understanding the role played by the stakeholders in the process of bringing them into the mainstream of society," the ECHO Founder added.. 

At the end of the process it was found that 73% of juveniles involved in crimes belong to the age group of 16-18 years. The largest numbers of group of juveniles who committed offence belong to the age group of 17 years. The research has found that education plays a crucial role in preventing them from committing crimes. Based on the findings of the research, a recommendation was also made to strengthen juvenile justice system and make it more humane and reduce the conflict of children with law," he said. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Work-on-juvenile-justice-system-to-be-unveiled/articleshow/28444268.cms?