Would You be Friends with a Juvenile?

Abstract

Present study was conducted to explore the Social Perception about Juvenile among Indian Adolescents. Interview technique was used to collect data through open ended questionnaire. 30 Juveniles from Juvenile Reform Centre and 30 Adolescents from Bhopal were interviewed for the purpose of this study. The data collected was analysed using qualitative analysis. Findings suggest that the self-perception of the Adolescents are negative about Juveniles. The hypotheisis formulated was found to be accepted. The major reason for this negative perception was the information dispersion against juveniles in the society and keeping the Juveniles at par with criminals. On interviweing Juveniles, this negative perception was also found to be one of the major problems in rehabilitation of juveniles in the society after finishing their term in the Reform centre. Inclusion of this knowledge can be used in the correction process of Juveniles, and also gives direction for future research to understand the concerns of Juvelines while serving their term and ways to curb the negative perception against them in the society.