Name- Saurabh

Poptani
Area of research- juvenile delinquency

Topic-Effect of technology in maturity level

of juveniles
Abstract
The study was aimed to analyze whether the juvenile
justice act, 2015 is adequate in present scenario or
not, the reason being influence of technology on
maturity level of juveniles aged 16-18. It was found
that the conditions are not the same as it used to be
in earlier period, there has been a drastic change in
the maturity of juveniles to understand what they
are doing, it is found that a proper amendment is
required to reduce the crime commission by juveniles
and to provide adequate relief to the victims.
Research methodology
The research methodology adopted is doctrinal
with experimental study of research design.
The research on juvenile delinquency is a socio
legal research and is based on projective and
predictive objectives.
Hypothesis
There has been a drastic changed in mass
media and technology, which has changed the
whole scenario of todays generation, juveniles
aged 16-18 now have sufficient amount of
maturity and understanding of what they are
doing and with change in technology there is
change in law dealing with juveniles i.e. juvenile
justice act, 2015 but it is inadequate in present
scenario in providing any justice to victims.
Research Problem
Whether the existing law dealing with juveniles
is adequate to support the prevailing conditions
of modern scenario?
Introduction
Juvenile- a person who has not attained the age
of 18 years.
Juvenile delinquent- Any person below 18 years

committed an unlawful offence is termed as

juvenile delinquent.
But after the passing of the juvenile Act, 2015

or The Juvenile Justice (care and protection of

children) Act, 2015 the age limit has been
reduced to 16.
Difference between an juvenile and
minor
Though in common language we use both the
terms interchangeably but juvenile and minor
in legal terms are used in different context.
The term juvenile is used with reference to a
young criminal offender and the term minor
relates to legal capacity or majority of a
person.
Juvenile crimes in India
Petty crimes in general and heinous crimes in
particular are being committed regularly in India
by children
Crimes such as theft, burglary, snatching which
are not so serious in nature or crimes such as
robbery, dacoits, murder and rape etc which are
relatively serious are on the rise in whole of the
country
And the unfortunate thing is that all types of
these crimes are also being committed by children
below the age of 18 years
Continued
According to the National Crime Records Bureau,
the data of 2013 shows that of the 43,506
crimes registered against minors under the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Special Local Law
(SLL) by juveniles, 28,830 had been committed
by those between the ages of 16 to 18
The statistics also show the number of juveniles
found to be in conflict with law under the IPC and
the SLL has risen 13.6% and 2.5% respectively in
2013, as compared with 2012
Reasons for juvenile crimes

No one is a born criminal. Circumstances make him so. Socio-cultural

environment, both inside and outside of home, plays significant role in
shaping ones life and overall personality.
Some of the most common causes which are associated with juvenile
crimes are: Poverty; Drug Abuse; Anti-social Peer Group; Easy
availability of firearms; Abusive parents; Single-parent child; Nuclear
Family; Family Violence; Child sexual abuse and Role of Media.
However, as far as India is concerned, it is Poverty and the effect of
media, especially the social-media which make juveniles more inclined
towards criminal activities.
Poverty is one of the biggest causes which force a child to get
involved in criminal acts. Also, role played by social media today which
is having a more negative than positive imprints on young minds.
Juvenile Justice system
History- In India, the first legislation dealing
with children in conflict with law or children
committing crime was the Apprentices Act,
1850. It provided that children under the age of
15 years found to have committed petty
offences will be bounded as apprentices
Thereafter, the Reformatory Schools Act, 1897
came into effect which provided that children
up to the age of 15 years sentenced to
imprisonment would be sent to reformatory cell.
Continued..
. After the Independence, with an aim to provide care,
protection, development and rehabilitation of neglected or
delinquent juveniles, our Parliament enacted the Juvenile
Justice Act, 1986. It was an Act which brought uniform
system throughout the country. Section 2(a) of the Act
defined the term juvenile as a boy who has not attained
the age of 16 years and a girl who has not attained the age
of 18 years.
The act of 1986 1986 has been replaced by a new Act called
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act,
2000. This new law is more child-friendly and provides for
proper care and protection as also for ultimate
rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection
Law after amendment of 2015
The juvenile Act, 2015 or The Juvenile
Justice (care and protection of children) Act,
2015 was passed by the parliament of India
This law was passed because of a rape case

held in Delhi termed as Nirbhaya kand.

It reduced the age limit to 16 for heinous

crimes and punishment is fixed for 3 years

Role of social media in Juvenile
Delinquency
The mass media significantly influence
behavior. Juveniles are especially vulnerable to
the mass media. This condition points to
concerns on possible negative effects of the
mass media on juvenile behavior.
Factors- television shows & movies, violent

video games, internet, violent music etc.

Moderns era & Juvenile
Delinquency
In the prevailing scenario there has been a lot of change in
psychology and maturity level of juveniles. Therefore there
have been a lot of arguments and debates in changing the
prevailing law dealing with juveniles. Though amendment of
2015 has taken a step by amending the earlier act, but still
the step is found inadequate to deal with the modern era.
The most important case law- Nirbhaya kand, in this case
the juvenile was sentenced for only 3 years because of the
amendment. This provided hardly any justice; therefore
there is need for new amendments in juvenile justice
system to support the conditions of present scenario and to
prevent the misuse of the provisions of the prevailing act
by the juveniles.
Conclusion
Gone are the days when there was lack of maturity
among the juveniles, the time has been completely
changed due to advancement of technology in the
modern era. The prevailing law i.e. law passed in 2015
for juveniles of which the punishment is 3 years for
the heinous crimes hardly do any justice in prevailing
scenario. The maturity level of juveniles aged 16-18 is
completely different as it used to be before,
therefore the seriousness of the punishment shall be
increased for putting fear in the minds of juveniles
and most importantly to protect the misuse of the
provisions of the act.
 Thank you
Any queries