‘Every night and every morn,
Some to misery are born;
Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night.’

Almost each day our morning newspapers have reports on crime committed in various places in various manners and by various people, in some case by various children. Sordid tales of massacre by gun-wielding kids, maniacal youths using brute muscles to decimate a life may be junior or senior to them.

Some may do it for fun, some for money, revenge or other motivators, and some for the complete lack of interest in life! And this is when the society shivers to think how these brigades of unruly kids will become super-predators once they grow up and act more cohesively to forge even greater crime.

At this point one might be tempted to think that corporal punishment of the delinquent youth is the best and swiftest way to mete out justice. But juvenile system of justice is basically different from adult system as it stresses more on treatment and rehabilitation than on punishment. A crime-bound adolescent should be treated much differently than an adult criminal.

This is because the tender impressionable mind can be weaned away from the violent and negative thoughts by proper counseling and community support through individual and group sessions. By positive empathy he can be given a chance to atone his mistake and do something for the benefit of the society.

A corporal punishment will never give the child to realize his full potential and the society may lose a talent gone astray by his behavioral problems which may be caused more due to the fallout of his surroundings, family and peer pressure, alcohol abuse, violence, low self-esteem and child abuse/neglect.
Hence it is better that we can provide catharsis to this malady of juvenile crime by adequate services in rehabilitation homes, schools, community centers, etc. instead of punitive measures. Because, after all a child is like a god in the chrysalis.

Via: Juvenile Punishment and mind set