Assessing the implementation of correctional treatment of Young Adult offenders in the state of Odisha, India

• In Event: Prison Working Group: Assessement and intervention among vulnerable populations in prison settings

Abstract

The minimum age of fixing criminality is set at seven years old under the Indian criminal law. According to the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015, children who are in conflict with law and between the ages of 7-18 years are treated as juveniles, distinct from adults, with the express purpose of reformation. On the other hand, adolescents(Young Adults) in the age group of 18-30 years are treated as adults by the criminal justice system without taking emotional maturity as a consideration. The Indian criminal justice system does not take this development into account, even though recent studies suggest that people between the ages of 18 and 30 are more like juveniles than adults. Official statistics in India show that this age group has a higher representation in the total arrests made by the police and a higher stake in the prison population as compared to the other age groups. This research presents the results from the responses of the Prison Officers from a cross sectional study conducted in the state of Odisha in India to see their approach in the treatment of Young Adult offenders. The findings show that despite the presence of a legal mandate for treating the young adult offenders separately, there are no mechanisms for the implementation of the same.

Authors

• Swati Mohapatra, KIIT Deemed to be University

• Sonali Swetapadma, School of Law, KIIT Deemed to be University Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

• Dr Bhavani Prasad Panda, KIIT Deemed to be University