Juvenile Justice Board
Also called: JJB · Topic: Safeguards for Vulnerable Sections: SCs, STs, OBCs, Minorities, Women and Children · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is a body set up in every district under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015. It is made up of a magistrate and two social workers, at least one of whom must be a woman. It handles "children in conflict with law", meaning children accused of crimes. Its focus is reform, not punishment.
Example
Suppose a 17-year-old is accused of a heinous (very serious) offence. The Board first makes a preliminary assessment, a first check of the child's mental and physical capacity. A Children's Court then decides whether the child should be tried as an adult. Even then, there can be no death sentence and no life term without release.
Don't confuse with
- Child Welfare Committee: deals with children in need of care and protection, such as orphans or rescued child labourers. It does not deal with children accused of crimes.
Related concepts
- PCPNDT Act 1994
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015
- Child Welfare Committee
- Central Adoption Resource Authority
- POCSO Act 2012
- Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 2016