A workshop on the ‘importance of saving youngsters from criminality through probation’ held here on Wednesday called upon the judges and lawyers to seriously consider the role of probation in correcting the young generation.
Speaking on the Probation of Offenders Act, Assistant Public Prosecutor P. Prem Nath said that most juvenile offenders were found to have turned hardened criminals after being sent to jails for their first offence.
All kinds
“Jails are a unifying platform for all kinds of offenders,” said Mr. Prem Nath.
“If a youngster is sent to jail for their first offence between the age of 18 and 21, chances are very high that they will become criminals,” he said.
Mr. Prem Nath said that the youngsters landing in jails for various offences were invariably getting sexually exploited by other jail inmates.
“Thus it becomes a stepping stone to criminality,” he said, calling upon the judges to consider if the accused was a first-time offender before sending them to jail.
Important role
Speaking on the probation possibility for adolescent offenders at the workshop, Special Sub Jail Welfare Officer A. Dhanya said that probation could do wonders in correcting young offenders.
“Probation is an act of great potential that can do wonders in our society,” she said.
A loss
According to her, the loss would be very high for anyone landing in a jail. But it would be more so for offenders between 18 and 21 years of age.
Deputy Director of Prosecution P. Lata inaugurated the workshop.
Special Branch Inspector A. Manoj Kumar presided.
District Probation Officer A.S. Rahul welcomed the gathering.
Special Sub-Jail superintendent S. Sivadasan, Social Justice Department senior superintendent Santhosh Babu, and Jishnu K. Madhav spoke.
Probation Officer T.K. Usha proposed a vote of thanks.
