Juvenile Delinquency, Its Causes and Justice System in Bangladesh: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Juvenile delinquency and crime are legal definitions rather than specific behavioural or psychiatric syndromes. Since common law is based on theological law, society has historically responded to juvenile delinquency and crime based on moral and religious beliefs regarding the age at which juveniles are criminally responsible rather than from scientific knowledge. Research shows, there is a high percentage of offending among all teenagers, the majority of offences which violate the law are one time occurrences and most often non-violent. Only about 5-10% of adolescents commit violent crimes. This article aims to show how juvenile delinquency is normally belongs to the illiterate and sometimes with low-income families in Bangladesh and how it is impacting negatively on their frequently engage in juvenile crimes. The article also focuses on the juvenile justice system of Bangladesh and provides few recommendations to prevent the juvenile delinquency from society and to more develop its justice system.