Street Children and Juvenile Justice

Summary

Street-involved children are particularly vulnerable to human rights abuses within criminal justice systems: they are more likely to come into contact with the system in the first place (whether or not they have actually committed an offence) and are less able to defend themselves from abuses once within the system. Due to their lack of contact with responsible adults and lack of fixed address street children are less likely to benefit from diversion schemes, release mechanisms such as bail and other alternatives to detention, even in countries where these options are available. The importance of investment in prevention strategies therefore cannot be overstated in the case of street children in order to break the abusive revolving door cycle of street life, arrest and detention.