Juvenile Justice and welfare act of 2006

Juvenile Delinquency report

1. RA 9344
JUVENILE JUSTICE
and WELFARE ACT
OF 2006

2. ANACTESTABLISHING A
COMPREHENSIVE
JUVENILE JUSTICEAND
WELFARE SYSTEM,
CREATINGTHEJUVENILE
JUSTICEANDWELFARE
COUNCIL UNDER THE
DEPARTMENT OFJUSTICE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHERPURPOSES

3. This Act shall be known
as the "Juvenile Justice
and Welfare Act of
2006." It shall cover the
different stages
involving children at risk
and children in conflict
with the law from
prevention to
rehabilitation and
reintegration.

4. Pursuant to Article 40 of the United
Nations Convention on the Rights
of the Child, the State recognizes
the right of every child alleged as,
accused of, adjudged, or
recognized as having infringed the
penal law to be treated in a manner
consistent with the promotion of
the child's sense of dignity and
worth, taking into account the
child's age and desirability of
promoting his/her reintegration.

5. RA 9344
JUVENILE JUSTICE
and WELFARE ACT
OF 2006
Who are
Punishable

6. (a) The State recognizes the
vital role of children and
youth in nation building and
shall promote and protect
their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual and
social well-being. It shall
inculcate in the youth
patriotism and nationalism
and encourage their
involvement in public and
civic affairs.

7. (b) The State shall protect the best
interests of the child through measures
that will ensure the observance of
international standards of child
protection, especially those to which the
Philippines is a party. Proceedings
before any authority shall be conducted
in the best interest of the child and in a
manner which allows the child to
participate and to express
himself/herself freely. The participation
of children in the program and policy
formulation and implementation related
to juvenile justice and welfare shall be
ensured by the concerned government
agency.

8. (c) The State likewise
recognizes the right of
children to assistance,
including proper care and
nutrition, and special
protection from all forms of
neglect, abuse, cruelty and
exploitation, and other
conditions prejudicial to
their development.

9. RA 9344
JUVENILE JUSTICE
and WELFARE ACT
OF 2006
Definition
of Terms

10. (a)"Bail"referstothesecuritygiven
forthereleaseofthepersonin
custodyofthelaw,furnishedby
him/herorabondsman,toguarantee
his/herappearancebeforeanycourt.
Bailmaybegivenintheformof
corporatesecurity,propertybond,
cashdeposit,orrecognizance.

11. (b)"BestInterestoftheChild"refers
tothetotalityofthecircumstances
andconditionswhicharemost
congenialtothesurvival,protection
andfeelingsofsecurityofthechild
andmostencouragingtothechild's
physical,psychologicalandemotional
development.Italsomeanstheleast
detrimentalavailablealternativefor
safeguardingthegrowthand
developmentofthechild.

12. (c) "Child" refers to
a person under the
age of eighteen (18)
years and
development of the
child.

13. (d)"ChildatRisk"refersto
achildwhoisvulnerableto
andattheriskof
committing criminal
offensesbecause of
personal,familyandsocial
circumstances,suchas,
butnotlimitedto,the
following:

14. (1)beingabusedbyanypersonthrough
sexual,physical,psychological,mental,
economicoranyothermeansandthe
parentsorguardianrefuse,areunwilling,
orunabletoprovideprotectionforthe
child;
(2)beingexploitedincludingsexuallyor
economically;
(3)beingabandonedorneglected,and
afterdiligentsearchandinquiry,the
parentorguardiancannotbefound;

15. (4)comingfromadysfunctionalorbroken
familyorwithoutaparentorguardian;
(5)beingoutofschool;
(6)beingastreetchild;
(7)beingamemberofagang;
(8)livinginacommunitywithahighlevel
ofcriminalityordrugabuse;and
(9)livinginsituationsofarmedconflict.

16. MAKUHA ANG ILANG MAHAHALAGANG
IMPORMASYON TULAD NG:
-TUNAY NA EDAD NG BATA
-LEGAL NA MGA DOKUMENTO
-MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
-REKOMENDASYON NGLOCAL NA
SOCIALWORKER KUNGSAKALIMAN
NAANGBATANAMAYEDAD15-17AY
MAYSADYANG KAALAM ATPANG-
UNAWAOANGTINATAWAGSAINGLES
NADISCERNMENT SAPAGKAKSALANG
KANYANGNAGAWA

17. (e)"ChildinConflictwiththeLaw"
referstoachildwhoisallegedas,
accusedof,oradjudgedas,having
committedanoffenseunder
Philippinelaws.
(f)"Community-basedPrograms"
referstotheprogramsprovidedina
communitysettingdevelopedfor
purposesofinterventionand
diversion,aswellasrehabilitationof
thechildinconflictwiththelaw,for
reintegrationintohis/herfamilyand/or
community.

18. (g)"Court"referstoafamilycourtor,
inplaceswheretherearenofamily
courts,anyregionaltrialcourt.
(h)"DeprivationofLiberty"refersto
anyformofdetentionor
imprisonment,ortotheplacementof
achildinconflictwiththelawina
publicorprivatecustodialsetting,
fromwhichthechildinconflictwith
thelawisnotpermittedtoleaveatwill
byorderofanyjudicialor
administrativeauthority

19. (i)"Diversion"referstoanalternative,child-
appropriateprocessofdeterminingthe
responsibilityandtreatmentofachildin
conflictwiththelawonthebasisofhis/her
social,cultural,economic,psychologicalor
educationalbackgroundwithoutresorting
toformalcourtproceedings.
(j)"DiversionProgram"referstothe
programthatthechildinconflictwiththe
lawisrequiredtoundergoafterhe/sheis
foundresponsibleforanoffensewithout
resortingtoformalcourtproceedings.tted
toleaveatwillbyorderofanyjudicialor
administrativeauthority

20. (k)"InitialContactWith-theChild"refersto
theapprehensionortakingintocustodyof
achildinconflictwiththelawbylaw
enforcementofficersorprivatecitizens.It
includesthetimewhenthechildallegedto
beinconflictwiththelawreceivesa
subpoenaunderSection3(b)ofRule112
oftheRevisedRulesofCriminalProcedure
orsummonsunderSection6(a)orSection
9(b)ofthesameRuleincasesthatdonot
requirepreliminaryinvestigationorwhere
thereisnonecessitytoplacethechild
allegedtobeinconflictwiththelawunder
immediatecustody.

21. (I)"Intervention"referstoaseries
ofactivitieswhicharedesignedto
addressissuesthatcausedthe
childtocommitanoffense.Itmay
taketheformofanindividualized
treatmentprogramwhichmay
includecounseling,skillstraining,
education,andotheractivities
thatwillenhance his/her
psychological,emotionaland
psycho-socialwell-being.

22. (m)"JuvenileJusticeandWelfare
System"referstoasystem
dealingwithchildrenatriskand
childreninconflictwiththelaw,
whichprovideschild-appropriate
proceedings,includingprograms
andservicesforprevention,
diversion,rehabilitation,re-
integrationandaftercareto
ensuretheirnormalgrowthand
development.

23. (n)"LawEnforcementOfficer"
referstothepersoninauthorityor
his/heragentasdefinedinArticle
152oftheRevisedPenalCode,
includingabarangaytanod.
(0)"Offense"referstoanyactor
omissionwhetherpunishable
underspeciallawsortheRevised
PenalCode,asamended.

24. (p)"Recognizance"refers
toanundertakinginlieuof
abondassumedbya
parentorcustodianwho
shallberesponsibleforthe
appearanceincourtofthe
childinconflictwiththe
law,whenrequired.

25. (q)"RestorativeJustice"referstoa
principlewhichrequiresaprocessof
resolvingconflictswiththemaximum
involvementofthevictim,theoffenderand
thecommunity.Itseekstoobtain
reparationforthevictim;reconciliationof
theoffender,theoffendedandthe
community;andreassurancetothe
offenderthathe/shecanbereintegrated
intosociety.Italsoenhancespublicsafety
byactivatingtheoffender,thevictimand
thecommunityinpreventionstrategies

26. (r)"StatusOffenses"referstooffenseswhich
discriminateonlyagainstachild,whileanadult
doesnotsufferanypenaltyforcommittingsimilar
acts.Theseshallincludecurfewviolations;
truancy,parentaldisobedienceandthelike.
(s)"YouthDetentionHome"referstoa24-hour
child-caringinstitutionmanagedbyaccredited
localgovernmentunits(LGUs)andlicensed
and/oraccreditednongovernmentorganizations
(NGOs)providingshort-termresidentialcarefor
childreninconflictwiththelawwhoareawaiting
courtdispositionoftheircasesortransfertoother
agenciesorjurisdiction.

27. (t)"YouthRehabilitationCenter"referstoa24-
hourresidentialcarefacilitymanagedbythe
DepartmentofSocialWelfareandDevelopment
(DSWD),LGUs,licensedand/oraccreditedNGOs
monitoredbytheDSWD,whichprovidescare,
treatmentandrehabilitationservicesforchildrenin
conflictwiththelaw.Rehabilitationservicesare
providedundertheguidanceofatrainedstaff
whereresidentsarecaredforunderastructured
therapeuticenvironmentwiththeendviewof
reintegratingthemintotheirfamiliesand
communitiesassociallyfunctioningindividuals.
Physicalmobilityofresidentsofsaidcentersmay
berestrictedpendingcourtdispositionofthe
chargesagainstthem

28. (u) "Victimless
Crimes"refersto
offenses where
thereisnoprivate
offendedparty.

29. (u) "Victimless
Crimes"refersto
offenses where
thereisnoprivate
offendedparty.

30. RA 9344
JUVENILE JUSTICE
and WELFARE ACT
OF 2006
PUNISHABLE
ACTS

31. SEC.57.StatusOffenees.
-Anyconductnot
consideredanoffenseor
notpenalizedifcommitted
byanadultshallnotbe
consideredanoffenseand
shallnotbepunishedif
committedbyachild.

32. SEC.58.OffensesNotApplicableto
Children.-Personsbeloweighteen(18)
yearsofageshallbeexemptfrom
prosecutionforthecrimeofvagrancyand
prostitutionunderSection202ofthe
RevisedPenalCode,ofmendicancyunder
PresidentialDecreeNo.1563,andsniffing
ofrugbyunderPresidentialDecreeNo.
1619,suchprosecutionbeinginconsistent
withtheUnitedNationsConventiononthe
RightsoftheChild:Provided,Thatsaid
personsshallundergoappropriate
counselingandtreatmentprogram.

33. SEC.59.ExemptionfromtheApplicationof
DeathPenalty.-Theprovisionsofthe
RevisedPenalCode,asamended,
RepublicActNo.9165,otherwiseknown
astheComprehensiveDangerousDrugs
Actof2002,andotherspeciallaws
notwithstanding,nodeathpenaltyshallbe
imposeduponchildreninconflictwiththe
law.

34. SEC.60.ProhibitionAgainstLabelingand
Shaming.-Intheconductofthe
proceedingsbeginningfromtheinitial
contactwiththechild,thecompetent
authoritiesmustrefrainfrombrandingor
labelingchildrenasyoungcriminals,
juveniledelinquents,prostitutesor
attachingtotheminanymanneranyother
derogatorynames.Likewise,no
discriminatoryremarksandpracticesshall
beallowedparticularlywithrespecttothe
child'sclassorethnicorigin.

35. SEC.61.OtherProhibitedActs.-The
followingandanyothersimilaractsshall
beconsideredprejudicialanddetrimental
tothepsychological,emotional,social,
spiritual,moralandphysicalhealthand
well-beingofthechildinconflictwiththe
lawandtherefore,prohibited:

36. (a)Employmentofthreatsofwhateverkindand
nature;
(b)Employmentofabusive,coerciveandpunitive
measuressuchascursing,beating,stripping,and
solitaryconfinement;
(c)Employmentofdegrading,inhumanendcruel
formsofpunishmentsuchasshavingtheheads,
pouringirritating,corrosiveorharmfulsubstances
overthebodyofthechildinconflictwiththelaw,
orforcinghim/hertowalkaroundthecommunity
wearingsignswhichembarrass,humiliate,and
degradehis/herpersonalityanddignity;and
(d)Compellingthechildtoperforminvoluntary
servitudeinanyandallformsunderanyandall
instances.