Abu Dhabi: An alternative method for reforming juveniles, that does not involve their imprisonment, is proving very efficient among offenders who have committed minor crimes, a top judicial official said on Sunday.
While the overall number of crimes carried out by those under 18 has increased over the past year, more judges are ordering what is called the ‘Judicial Test’ as a substitute for incarceration, Counsellor Mohammad Rashid Al Dhanhani, head of Family Prosecution, revealed.
“For about one year, the juvenile offender undergoes interviews by social, psychological and other specialists who examine the child’s progress as he or she remains free to be in school and with family members. During that time, the issued reports go to the judge so that a fair decision can be made by the time a ruling is due. If it turns out that the juvenile is not benefiting from this programme, then he or she can be sent back to the courtroom to be dealt with in a different manner,” Al Dhanhani said.
In fact, the number of minors who underwent this ‘test’ has increased from 82 throughout 2014 to 78 in only the first half of 2015. “A large percentage of these individuals successfully complete the test and end up with a clean record with no priors. More judges are opting for this method of rehabilitation due to its high success rate,” the official added.
Meanwhile, victims of physical and sexual abuse may not be capable of sharing their experiences with investigators and may therefore be referred to social experts who can better understand them and take their statements.
“The main thing I always tell parents is to take their children to mental health experts whenever they face abuse. Some parents may even start beating their own children when they find out what had happened, blaming the victim for not informing an adult earlier. This is where we intervene and inform them that one of the reasons their child was abused is because of parental neglect,” he said.
Finally, the official reported the Prosecution’s success in reducing the number of crimes involving drugs and information technology among juveniles.
However, traffic-related cases saw a 90 per cent increase this year and assaults on the physical safety of others, theft and sabotaging property have also gone up, especially in the emirate’s more remote areas, Al Dhanhani told Gulf News.
