A Victimological Outlook to Juvenile Delinquents in the Light of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran

Abstract

Chapter Ten of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran (IPC 2013) is entitled ‘Punishments and Secure and Rehabilitative Measures Relating to Juveniles’. It adopts a hybrid system of response to juvenile delinquency that reflects scientific findings. The present paper explores the relevant provisions from a victimological outlook according to the main theme of the current conference. The findings shows a development at the legislative criminal policy level that is largely reflected in a binary system of criminal sanctions. Despite this development, the system in question faces serious challenges specifically certain conflicts and overlaps in respect of the maturity age test and the applicable criminal sanctions to juveniles that, on the whole, can be analyzed from a victimological perspective. The author concludes that the maturity age test must be changed into international standard age under eighteen in parallel with the protection of children and prevention of their delinquency and potential victimization.