(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The crimes of young people, who serve jail terms for the same, are not being shown on their records.
This revelation came in an exclusive Khaleej Times interview with the Family and Juvenile Prosecution Chief Prosecutor Mohammed Rustom Bu Abdullah, as he discussed the increase in the number of reported juvenile and family criminal cases.
According to article 18 of the Federal Law No. 36 of 1992 on restitution of the eligibility, criminal cases against juveniles shall not be considered as a criminal record even if the juvenile was convicted and jailed.
"No record shall be kept against any youngster who faced an investigation or was even convicted and jailed. His file shall be kept in our system only for our own reference," Bu Abdullah said.
This gives youngsters a second chance not afforded to adult criminals, who need specific documents or court rulings to become eligible for work and other privileges again after spending time in jail.
The flow of the cases to the Family and Juvenile Prosecution has kept a steady increase, with almost 50 more family criminal cases investigated in the past year to September, than the year before, while juvenile cases jumped more than 30 in the same period.
Bu Abdullah said as many as 342 family cases and 262 juvenile cases have been investigated by the Family and Juvenile Prosecution till September end this year, compared to 299 family cases and 229 juvenile cases for the same period of last year. In 2010, 265 family cases and 242 juvenile cases were handled by the same prosecution in the first three quarters. While cases of threat, assault and verbal abuse topped the family cases, theft and driving without licence topped the juvenile cases, Bu Abdullah said.
Driving without a license was most common amongst teenagers aged between 15 and 17, he said.
"Sometimes it happens with the parents, namely the father, unaware or (un)responsible for it. But if the fathers consent of his under-age sons or daughters driving unlawfully is proven, he would also be held responsible and charged in the court of law for putting others lives at risk."
Carrying sharp weapons still not a crime
The prosecution is still waiting for the law restricting the carrying of sharp weapons by youngsters.
Bu Abdullah said his prosecution presented recommendations to restrict teenagers carrying sharp weapons like knives, swords and other tools months ago.
"We have heard of a draft law that has been issued by the legislative committee of the Federal National Council in this regard, but it has yet to be passed by the cabinet. We really need a legal text which the police could make use of when encountering youngsters carrying sharp weapons. Such a text could penalise teenagers who carry knives and swords and consequently curb crimes."
Currently, the police can only arrest someone once a person has commited a crime with that sharp weapon, but not for mere possession. "We can only imagine how much crimes involving stabbing can be prevented and curbed when such a law comes into effect." - mary@khaleejtimes.com
A peek into court affairs leaves a mark on pupils
A legal awareness programme targeting youngsters with ages ranging from 14 to 17 is making positive strides in its second year, a top prosecutor says.
"With the beginning of the new academic year, we have widened our awareness plan to include private schools. So ten new private schools will benefit (from awareness programme) Nibras alongside ten other public schools," Family and Juvenile Prosecution Chief Prosecutor Mohammed Rustom Bu Abdullah said.
As many as 60 pupils will benefit from the programme in each school.
Bu Abdullah said the programme was already appearing to have a good impact on pupils behaviour.
"Nibras has come as a great opportunity for the youth to get a glimpse of the work nature of the Public Prosecution and the police, and how both are inter-related."
Bu Abdullah said introducing the pupils to the court chamber was the most instructive and intimidating part.
"They got to know what would happen to whoever commits a crime.
"They saw the judge bench, the police officers standing guard in court, the registrar and became a bit familiar with the overall process that was sort of educational and a wake-up call of what happens in real life."
The chief prosecutor added that Nibras would not totally prevent crimes and offences among the youth but he thought it would certainly contribute to curbing them.
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