Debate: For Young People in Conflict With the Law, Mere Rehabilitation Is Not Enough
What is required is deeper, more holistic and essentially restorative.
Photo: James Todd/Unsplash
Raghu Raman’s article,
Don’t Let Juvenile Delinquents Become Repeat Offenders, Rehabilitate Them published on April 23, 2021, makes an appeal to society to invest in, emphathise with and rehabilitate young offenders. He posits that they are a small group and that “it makes more sense to rehabilitate slightly damaged juveniles than to suffer severely marred criminals”.
While we recognise the intent of the author for revisiting our justice processes relating to young offenders and the need to engage with them, we strongly disagree with Ramanâs account of these young people. We argue, merely empathising and rehabilitating young people in conflict with the law is not enough. What is required is deeper, more holistic and essentially restorative.