Juvenile justice

Abstract

None provided; the following is taken from the author's Introduction:

In terms of article 37 of the CRC, the arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child should only be a measure of last resort and only for the shortest possible period of time. However the arrest, pre-trial detention and sometimes imprisonment of juveniles are used as a measure of first rather than last resort in Namibia. Article 37 further requires children who are deprived of their liberty to be treated in a manner that takes into account the special needs of a person of their age, and they must be separated from adults. Many juveniles have no legal representation when they appear in court, and more often than not their parents or guardians do not assist them. Juveniles are also not separated from adult prisoners as required by the CRC, thus exposing them to sexual, physical and emotional abuse by the adult prisoners. This shows that in Namibia there are discrepancies between international standards as reflected by the CRC and actual practice in dealing with children in conflict with the law

The main aim of this research is to show that the rights of children in conflict with the law are not protected, and that there is a need for reform at all stages of the criminal justice system as far as juveniles are concerned. There is a need to promote the sense of dignity and worth of children who are in conflict with the law