Closing The Gap Between Law And Practice In Pakistan’s Juvenile Justice System
Children who come into conflict with the law are often regarded as criminals for the rest of their lives. While the circumstances behind their behavior go unnoticed. Many have grown up in environments marked by poverty, abuse, neglect, or social exclusion, and a lack of opportunity leaving them with few opportunities and difficult choices. Juvenile rehabilitation aims to tackle these root issues. Rather than relying purely on punitive measures, it seeks to reintegrate young offenders by offering them access to education, mental health support, vocational skills and family intervention.
Evidence from around the world supports that juvenile rehabilitation, helps in reducing the future crime rate. Young individuals are still developing making them much more receptive to education, counselling and structured support than adults. When juveniles are provided with schooling, vocational training, mental health care, and opportunities to reconnect with their families, they are significantly more likely to become productive members of society. Conversely, placing children in overcrowded prisons without adequate rehabilitation often exposes them to hardened criminals, increases trauma, and reinforces criminal behavior rather than preventing it. Every juvenile who successfully reintegrates into society represents not only a life........
