Social Threat of Juvenile Delinquency
SOCIAL THREAT OF JUVENILE DELIQUENCY armando c. ceralde april 11, 2012 pangasinan state university
This position paper discusses the increasing number of minor offenders in our society. Juvenile delinquency has been the topic of several discussions and debates among lawmakers and social groups who express their concerns and views citing that it is a serious issue in the society. Historically, the first law that concerns the issue is the P.D. 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code) signed in December 10, 1974. Under this law, youth offenders were viewed as victims not aggressors. They were oriented to rehabilitation for reformation with the purpose of integrating them into the mainstream society managed by the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. By virtue of the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (B.P. 129), the authority over the adjudication of the juvenile (and domestic) cases was then designated to Regional and Municipal Courts which cannot act exclusively on proceedings for youth offenders because functions also as courts of general jurisdiction. This means that rehabilitation for reformation cannot be implemented according to purpose. Children under the age of nine are exempt from criminal responsibility and those between nine and fifteen are liable only if they are able to demonstrate discernment, which is a level of intellectual maturity including the ability to distinguish right from wrong. P.D. 1179 qualifies a youthful offender over nine (9) but not under eighteen years of age at the time of his commission of a crime. Children under the age of nine are exempt from criminal responsibility and those between nine and fifteen are liable only if they are able to demonstrate discernment, which is a level of intellectual maturity including the ability to distinguish right from wrong. P.D. 1179 qualifies a youthful offender over nine (9) but not under eighteen years of age at the time of his commission of a crime. This is followed by R.A. 9344
This position paper discusses the increasing number of minor offenders in our society. Juvenile delinquency has been the topic of several discussions and debates among lawmakers and social groups who express their concerns and views citing that it is a serious issue in the society. Historically, the first law that concerns the issue is the P.D. 603 (Child and Youth Welfare Code) signed in December 10, 1974. Under this law, youth offenders were viewed as victims not aggressors. They were oriented to rehabilitation for reformation with the purpose of integrating them into the mainstream society managed by the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court. By virtue of the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (B.P. 129), the authority over the adjudication of the juvenile (and domestic) cases was then designated to Regional and Municipal Courts which cannot act exclusively on proceedings for youth offenders because functions also as courts of general jurisdiction. This means that rehabilitation for reformation cannot be implemented according to purpose. Children under the age of nine are exempt from criminal responsibility and those between nine and fifteen are liable only if they are able to demonstrate discernment, which is a level of intellectual maturity including the ability to distinguish right from wrong. P.D. 1179 qualifies a youthful offender over nine (9) but not under eighteen years of age at the time of his commission of a crime. Children under the age of nine are exempt from criminal responsibility and those between nine and fifteen are liable only if they are able to demonstrate discernment, which is a level of intellectual maturity including the ability to distinguish right from wrong. P.D. 1179 qualifies a youthful offender over nine (9) but not under eighteen years of age at the time of his commission of a crime. This is followed by R.A. 9344
References: Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. 9344) Natalie Blanco, Krusada: Juvenile Delinquency, November 32, 2011. Kimberly Jane Tan, GMA News, October 14, 2012 & September 12, 2011 Davinci S. Maru & Rizel S. Adlawan, Sun.Star Cebu, September 17, 2011. Amita O. Legaspi, GMA News, September 13, 2011 Jhunnex Napallacan, Cebu Daily News, August 8, 2007. Statement of the Phillipine Hierarchy on Juvenile Delinquency, Juan C. Sison, 1957 Feast of St. Anne, CBCP News Marianne Murdoch , Juvenile Justice in the Philippines – A Personal Experience UNICEF, Manila