Restorative juvenile justice
Authors: Shpak Krystina , Gracheva Alexandra , Golovko Olga 
Published: January 2022

Problem setting.Today, society is developing rapidly, there is a process of globalization, the influence of information technology is growing significantly, which in some way complicates public relations and conflicts that need to be effectively resolved and resolved through justice.

Raising this issue, in our opinion, we should first of all pay attention to such a problem as juvenile delinquency, because it is the rapid development of information technology has significantly affected the spread of this phenomenon. Thus, it should be emphasized that the state does not fully contribute to solving this problem, which just clearly illustrates the problem in the introduction of juvenile justice in Ukraine. The actualization of this issue is primarily due to the lack of understanding of the implementation of new changes in the protection of children’s rights in Ukraine. The state must understand that it has a responsibility to increase the responsibility of adults for the safety and lives of people.

In turn, as already mentioned, low social protection of children creates crime among minors. And here there is another problem: the application of official justice, which involves primarily the application by the state to offenders of certain coercive measures, which is provided for in the sanctions of legal norms.

In our opinion, this method of justice does not help to resolve the conflict between the victim and the accused. Because, in criminal proceedings, the main mediator of the accusation is the state, as a result of which the injured party receives double damage: both from the criminal offense itself and directly from justice, which has not solved the real problem in essence. In turn, the offender, through the application of appropriate means of state coercion, is not aware of his responsibility for the act committed by him. Thus, today there is a need for the introduction and application of restorative justice in juvenile cases. Since the restorative approach is aimed at restoring the socio-psychological condition of both participants in the process, as well as real compensation for the damage to the injured party.

Target of research. Investigate juvenile justice in Ukraine, and the commission of criminal offenses by minors. Correlate the concepts of formal and restorative justice, as well as consider the need for restorative justice in Ukraine. Investigate national and international practices of juvenile justice, and implemented alternative programs for the application of restorative justice practices against juveniles in Ukraine.

The object of this study is: juvenile justice, the commission of criminal offenses by minors, restorative justice in Ukraine, as well as the involvement of international practices in the application of restorative justice to minors.

Analysis of reсent researches and publications. This issue was studied by the following scientists: G. Kostova, V. Zemlyanska, V. Lyska, V. Sidletska and others.

Article’s main body. The article is devoted to the problem of introduction of restorative justice in juvenile cases in Ukraine. The authors studied the functioning of juvenile justice in Ukraine, as well as the implementation of state programs for the introduction of restorative practices, by reviewing the main provisions of national law and international practices. The author’s position and proposals for further reform of criminal justice for juveniles in Ukraine are formulated by introducing a restorative approach involving international practices. Norway is considered to be the first country to establish rehabilitation practices for minors. It is this leading country that has been based on the origins of mediation since 1970, but began on the basis of an experiment in the theft committed by a minor who was known in 1981. The case was a success, and in recent years almost 81 of Norway’s 345 municipalities have supported innovation – restorative justice, which has been expressed in a community decision in their area. And since 1991 it has become more accessible in 1991. Norwegian law enshrines this provision in the Municipal Mediation Councils Act, which was established in 1991, the 1992 Resolutions, the 1993 Circular, sections 71-72 of the 1998 Code of Criminal Procedure, and Part 2 include the right to the prosecutor in case of committing a non-public dangerous act without illegal consequences to transfer the offender to the mediation process.

Conclusions and prospects for the development. Currently, the state and trends of juvenile delinquency, as shown by the analysis of judicial statistics, indicate the urgent need to organize consolidated and targeted actions of society and the state to prevent such crime, prevent its development and growth. Canada and Norway, we have established that they carry out executive activities for the restoration of justice, communication and restoration of justice, protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, public relations. Also, these states are passing laws to get closer to the basics of restorative justice.

Despite their imperfections, their direct component is the formation of the moral condition of both parties, ensuring their understanding of the crime, solving issues related to the moral condition of the victim, which is manifested in her conscious assessment of the situation, psychological rehabilitation in case of mental illness: panic attacks. , depression, which require quality treatment. Also, it is fundamental to report the guilt of a juvenile offender for his crime, the implementation of alternative measures of punishment: community service, a fine that would positively affect the further behavior of the offender. As practice shows, such an alternative in Ukraine would be a good attempt to minimize the level of crime among criminals also through advocacy in the form of lectures, seminars on offenses, as well as the adoption of alternative regulations in Ukraine, which would legally support mediation.