THE ROLE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND WELFARE COUNCIL IN ENSURING THE FAIR TREATMENT AMONG CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Abstract

In contemporary criminology, juvenile offending has garnered significant attention due to its impact on public safety and the developmental trajectories of young individuals. Republic Act 9344 emphasizes diversion and intervention programs, focusing on addressing the underlying causes of a child's behavior while avoiding formal court proceedings whenever possible. This study employed a Quantitative Descriptive Research Design and involved fifty (50) respondents. The participants included members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team, Barangay personnel, and Police officials, as they are directly affected by the factors under investigation. Respondents were selected using a probability sampling technique. Data and information were collected through survey questionnaires. In terms of age, the majority of respondents fall within the 34-41 and 42-50 year-old age ranges. Regarding sex, most respondents are male. For civil status, 27 respondents are married. Concerning educational attainment, 27 respondents are college graduates.

In Part 2 of the questionnaire, the key indicators identified were:

Number 4 in the PNP manual for handling CAR and CICL cases

Number 2 in the integrated care management protocol for duty bearers

Number 4 in the barangay protocol for handling children-at-risk and CICL

Numbers 1 and 4 in the guidelines for monitoring detention facilities

In Part 3, the majority of respondents selected options 1 through 7 as measures reflecting the treatment experienced by CICL in Bahay Pag-asa. Moreover, the researcher recommends enhancing individualized intervention programs, strengthening the application of restorative justice principles, and increasing family involvement for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). Additionally, the development of more educational services and activities is encouraged to support their rehabilitation.