Legal and Procedural Challenges in Applying Security and Educational Measures Instead of Punishment for Juvenile Offenders with a Preventive Approach in Criminal Procedure
Keywords:
Juvenile offenders, Protective and educational measures, Crime prevention, Juvenile criminal justice, Criminal procedure, Supportive penal policyAbstract
Juvenile delinquency is one of the important issues in contemporary criminal justice systems, which, due to the distinctive personal and social characteristics of children and adolescents, requires an approach different from that of the adult criminal justice system. Accordingly, many legal systems, with the aim of preventing recidivism and supporting the healthy development of children, have used security and educational measures instead of traditional punishments. In Iranian law, with the adoption of the Islamic Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of 2013, mechanisms have also been provided for applying such measures to juvenile offenders. Nevertheless, the effective implementation of these measures in practice faces numerous challenges. Using an analytical and descriptive approach and relying on legal and criminological sources, the present study examines the legal and procedural challenges in applying security and educational measures instead of punishment for juvenile offenders with a preventive approach in Iranian criminal procedure. The research findings indicated that legislative ambiguities in certain provisions, the conflict between punitive and supportive approaches, implementation constraints, the shortage of specialized supportive institutions, weak executive infrastructure, and the lack of specialized human resources are among the most important obstacles to achieving the rehabilitative and preventive objectives of these measures. Based on the research results, strengthening the preventive approach in juvenile criminal justice requires the amendment and clarification of legal provisions, the development of alternative institutions and rehabilitative programs, the strengthening of the role of social workers and psychologists, and the use of successful international experiences in the field of juvenile justice.
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