Leading Factors to Juveniles in Conflict with Law in Kerala

Abstract

Introduction: Kerala has 33.4 million populations, of which children constitute about 19 to 20 % of total population (kerala.gov.in/census2011). Children legal issues need to be focused in order to provide care and protection of Children. To understand various leading factors of children in conflict with law, Social workers responsibility is magnificent. Juvenile delinquency is one of the social problem and few recent incidents occurred in Kerala highlight the necessity of the in-depth work with this Population. Children who had committed crimes shall face trail and they will be in Child Home till the completion of such cases.

Methodology: The study followed web based literature survey (secondary data) using PubMed, Ebsco, Psyinfo, Kerala Government websites, etc. by using key words such as children, Juvenile Delinquency, leading issues, intervention like on. The researcher found about 70 studies which discussed on various aspects of children with conflict with law. The reviewer had chosen important studies for the review purpose.

Results and discussion: KAVAL is an innovative program implemented by Government of Kerala through the Department of Women and Child Development with technical support from Dept. of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bangalore. A systematic and structured methodology is developed in the state to support children in conflict with law there by reducing the potential danger of being labelled and isolated from society. This reduces the chances of the child being absorbed to antisocial gangs and causing potential harm to society. Identifying children at high risk at a young age and supporting them by providing holistic care through psychosocial intervention would help children to keep away from un-lawful activities.

As per a social justice department (http://old.wcd.kerala.gov.in/kaval)study, there are 3,118 children in conflict with the law (CCL) in the state and 2,146 connected cases pending. Kozhikode district tops the chart with 623 CCLs and 270 cases, followed by Kannur with 346 CCLs and 286 cases. Review

shows that Psychosocial factors like lack of parenting style, poor social support, financial problem, and peer Pressure, lack of supervision in school, environmental issues, marital problems, broken home, poor academic performance, substance use in the family and other factors may contribute for children to involve in legal issues. According to National Crime Records report (NCRB report 2019) children have been apprehended in theft cases, robbery, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, offense against state, acid attack, grievous hurt, cheating and in other cases. Various psychosocial interventions have been tried and tested with these populations and psychiatric nursing personal need to use them effectively.