While male juveniles dominate crime statistics in Kashmir, female offenders face unique challenges. Societal stigma and silence around their offenses hinder both their accountability and rehabilitation.
By Tamana Ajaz
Standing beside a simple list of items, I’m instantly transported back to the vivid memories of a weekend getaway. The people I met and the places I visited come alive in my mind. Children’s laughter filled the air as they played among the scenic hills of Harwan, cooling off in the refreshing waters under the protective canopy of Chinar trees. Just a short distance away, near a police station nestled in the rolling hills, stood a striking white building. This wasn’t just any building; it was home to a group of boys aged 15 to 18, each with a unique story. Some had been there for only a few days, while others had lived within its walls for as long as two years.
My weekend centered around this juvenile institution. Institutions like this are often misunderstood, seen by many as mere prisons for troubled youths. But they serve a far more profound purpose. These places exist to rehabilitate young people who have committed serious offenses, providing them a path to redemption rather than punishment. Built on a philosophical foundation that emphasizes guidance and reformation, juvenile institutions aim to help kids under 18 rebuild their lives and re-enter society as responsible, contributing members.
Life, much like a coin, has two sides. Offenses can be committed by anyone, regardless of their background or social standing. It could be a person with everything or someone with nothing. While society can predict certain behaviors or outcomes, many issues remain unresolved or hidden beneath the surface. As I spent more time at the institution, I began to reflect on what makes the juvenile facility in Kashmir stand out compared to others worldwide. A poignant answer came to me as I recalled meeting a young boy there. He dreamt of being a photographer, but conflict had steered his life in a different direction, leading him into the reformatory.
In the world, offenders range from petty thieves to murderers, all subject to the law. But the difference in Kashmir lies in how the turmoil of conflict can alter a child’s psychology. Many children find themselves in these institutions not just because of poor choices, but due to the upheaval that conflict causes in their young minds.
Kashmir has long been a land marred by conflict. As time passes, change is inevitable, and even the juvenile institutions reflect this transformation. Once, there was only one such institution in the region. Now, efforts are underway to establish juvenile centers in every district. These institutions offer not just a place of detention but a system of education and rights awareness. Juveniles are treated with dignity, not as criminals. The approach is child-friendly, designed to prevent feelings of guilt from taking root and causing further psychological damage.
But understanding juvenile offenders is no easy task. From the outside, it’s tempting to judge them by their crimes alone. Yet, without considering their mental state, upbringing, and the circumstances that shaped them, our judgments can be misguided. In Kashmir, juvenile offenses vary widely, including theft, murder, illegal activities, drug involvement, and even sexual violence.
In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in juvenile offenses, largely attributed to the lack of oversight from both parents and teachers. Children, after all, spend much of their formative years in school, and it’s crucial for parents to ensure their well-being by offering financial stability, emotional support, and by monitoring their use of gadgets. These measures can help prevent children from either becoming victims or offenders themselves. Teachers, too, play an integral role. They are often the second line of guidance after parents, spending hours observing children’s behavior, peer interactions, and overall conduct.
By fostering a culture of attentive listening and proactive engagement, both parents and teachers can have a significant impact on curbing juvenile offenses. Their involvement can address the many challenges young people face today, helping to steer them away from the path of delinquency and toward a brighter future.
While examining the factors that contribute to juvenile offenses, it became increasingly clear that the root causes often stem from a combination of disrupted family dynamics, psychological struggles, negative peer influence, unchecked social media usage, exposure to conflict, and a lack of proper nurturing. It is crucial to understand that no child is born or raised with the intention of becoming an offender. Rather, it is the absence of appropriate guidance and oversight that distorts their perception of right and wrong, leading them to justify harmful actions—whether those actions harm others or themselves.
In discussing the gender distribution of juvenile offenses in Kashmir, the data reveals a significant disparity: female offenders represent a much smaller proportion compared to their male counterparts. Several factors explain this imbalance, including the tendency for society to be less suspicious of females and the pervasive stigma attached to female delinquents. In many cases, society is quick to shame and label these young women rather than offer them the support needed for rehabilitation and reintegration as law-abiding citizens.
The crimes committed by female delinquents in Kashmir are primarily linked to involvement with narcotics and psychotropic substances. Unfortunately, there remains a widespread societal reluctance to acknowledge that women, too, can engage in criminal activities. This reluctance has dangerous implications: by overlooking or minimizing the offenses committed by young women, society sends a message that female offenders can evade accountability. This can lead to a dangerous cycle, as the lack of consequences may encourage further criminal behavior.
Over the years, the juvenile justice system has seen major reforms, transitioning from prosecuting young offenders in regular courts to establishing more child-friendly juvenile courts. Although some individuals may approach juvenile offenders with bias or disdain, it is essential to remember that these young people are often biologically and psychologically immature. Their ability to make sound decisions and understand the long-term consequences of their actions is limited, meaning they lack the tools to create a meaningful, law-abiding life. During their rehabilitation, it is critical to approach them with maturity and empathy. A punitive or dismissive attitude could harm their psychological development and hinder their potential to change.
Children who become involved in crime due to conflict present an especially complex case. These young offenders often face charges related to unlawful acts and are forced to live in constant fear of retribution. Even if they are eventually found innocent, the mere fact that they were accused leaves a permanent mark on their record, subjecting them to ongoing scrutiny and suspicion. Unlike other juvenile offenders, these children do not get the chance to live free from judgment, with uncertainty clouding their everyday lives.
While offenders exist in every society, it is important to resist the urge to belittle or provoke them. Rather, the focus should be on understanding the underlying psychology that drives a child to commit a crime and guiding them toward becoming better, more responsible individuals. The judicial system is specifically designed to handle juvenile delinquents with care and fairness. Taking justice into our own hands would only cause more harm. Every individual, regardless of their past, deserves a chance to follow their own path, and we must respect that journey.
Ultimately, the responsibility of guiding and nurturing our children falls on parents. While it is admirable to allow children to grow independently, neglecting to intervene when necessary can have far-reaching consequences—not just for their future but for the lives they are living in the present. It is a delicate balance, but as parents, we must be vigilant, supportive, and actively involved in shaping the individuals they will become.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of this Magazine. The author can be reached at [email protected]
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