ISSN 2617-4162 e-ISSN 2617-4170
en English
Submit an article
Social and Legal Studios

Article

Download article

Peculiarities of the formation and application of the institute of diversion (diverting) of children from criminal justice in the Kyrgyz Republic

Gulnara Sheishekeeva, Kunatbek Smanaliev, Zulaika Sydykova, Avakan Ulan uulu, Kyal Toktomambetova

Received 24.11.2023, Revised 23.02.2024, Accepted 28.03.2024

Abstract

Ensuring the rights and interests of juveniles involved in criminal activities is one of the priority tasks of the criminal justice system, but deprivation of liberty continues to be the most common punishment for children. The purpose of the study presented in this article is to determine the specifics of diversion (diverting) of juveniles from criminal justice and to consider the peculiarities of this legal institution in the justice system of the Kyrgyz Republic. The research employed both general scientific and specific legal methodologies, including logical-semantic, dialectical, abstract-logical, system-functional, historical, system-structural, comparative legal, and information legal methods. The study included consideration of the concept of diversion (diverting) of children from criminal justice, its difference from similar institutions (probation). The factors that determine the need for the earliest possible diversion (diverting) of a child from criminal justice, due to his or her age-related psychophysiological characteristics, were identified. International standards in the field of protecting children, particularly those related to the practice of diverting children from the criminal justice system, are considered. The main aspects of implementing international law on diversion of children within Kyrgyzstanʼs legal framework are identified and analyzed, alongside an examination of relevant provisions in national legislation. Drawing from the experiences of countries like Poland and Georgia, which have successfully implemented this legal mechanism, areas for potential improvement in the regulatory framework are identified. These include defining characteristics of the diversion process such as applicable stages, eligible offenses and age criteria for offenders, as well as the integration of mediation alongside diversion practices. Based on the results of the study, amendments to the national legislation of Kyrgyzstan are proposed, which can be used in the process of drafting bills to improve national legislation on juvenile justice and justice for

Keywords:

juvenile delinquency; probation; crime prevention; juvenile justice; childrenʼs rights; educational measures; justice for children

https://doi.org/10.32518/sals1.2024.124

Retrieved from Vol. 7, No. 1, 2024

Pages 124-134

References Suggested citation

References

[1] Abdurazakov, Kh., Abdipattaev, T., & Makhmudov, A. (2022). Some features of the specific principles of juvenile justice. Proceedings of the Universities of Kyrgyzstan, 4, 7-9. doi: 10.26104/IVK.2019.45.557.

[2] Abolition of Forced Labour Convention. (1957, June). Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/ f?p=NORMLEXPUB:55:0::NO::P55_TYPE,P55_LANG,P55_DOCUMENT,P55_NODE:CON,en,C105,/Document.

[3] Alfonso, M. (2022). The effects of incarceration on depression and anxiety in juveniles. Orlando: University of Central Florida.

[4] Baktiyarova, S., & Babaeva, Kh. (2021). Independence among innovators. Science, New Technologies and Innovations in Kyrgyzstan, 8, 30-33. doi: 10.26104/NNTIK.2019.45.557.

[5] Cauffman, E., Beardslee, J., Fine, A., Frick, P.J., & Steinberg, L. (2020). Crossroads in juvenile justice: The impact of initial processing decision on youth 5 years after first arrest. Development and Psychopathology, 33(2), 700-713. doi: 10.1017/ S095457942000200X.

[6] Childrenʼs Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2012, July). Retrieved from https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=31223299.

[7] Code on Justice for Children.(2015, June). Retrieved from https://matsne.gov.ge/ru/document/view/2877281?publication=21.

[8] Connolly, J. (2022). Hope 4 boys: The impact of a youth diversion program. Tampa: University of South Florida.

[9] Convention of the Rights of the Child. (1989, September). Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/ instruments/convention-rights-child.

[10] Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2021, October). Retrieved from https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=36675065.

[11] Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2021, December). Retrieved from https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/112308/ edition/3167/kg.

[12] Declaration of the Rights of the Child. (1959, November). Retrieved from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/195831?ln=ru.

[13] Diversion of Children in Conflict with the Law from Formal Judicial Proceedings in Europe and Central Asia. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/27691/file/Five%20Advocacy%20Briefs%20on%20Child%20Justice%20&%20 Child%20Friendly%20Justice:%20Diversion%20measures.pdf.

[14]  Dmytrenko, O. (2023). Administrative liability of juveniles for smoking. Law. Human. Environment, 14(3), 9-23. doi: 10.31548/ law/3.2023.09.

[15] Estimating the number of children deprived of liberty in the administration of justice. (2021). UNICEF. Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Children-in-detention_Estimating-the-number-of-children-deprived-of- liberty_2021.pdf.

[16] Gittner, L., Dennis, J., & Forbis, R.E. (2023). Diversion: A systems theory perspective. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 39(4), 471-490. doi: 10.1177/1043986223118941.

[17] Gordon, F. (2022). Diverting children away from the criminal justice system gives them a chance to “grow out” of crime. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/diverting-children-away-from-the-criminal-justice-system-gives-them-a-chance-to-grow- out-of-crime-194645.

[18] Green, R., Gray, R.M., Bryant, J., Rance, J., & MacLean, S. (2019). Police decision-making with young offenders: Examining barriers to the use of diversion options. Journal of Criminology, 53(1), 137-154. doi: 10.1177/0004865819879736.

[19] Hambali, A.R., & Zainuddin, Z. (2023). Implementation of diversion for children in conflict with the law by the national police of Indonesia. European Journal of Law and Political Science, 2(6), 15-21. doi: 10.24018/ejpolitics.2023.2.6.112.

[20] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (1966, December). Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/ instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights.

[21] Juvenile Justice Act. (1982, October). Retrieved from https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20100330178/U/ D20100178Lj.pdf.

[22] Kirimova, K.U. (2021). Delinquent behaviour of adolescents: Sociological analysis. Bishkek: Jusup Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University.

[23] Lambie, I., & Randell, I. (2013). The impact of incarceration of juvenile offenders. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(3), 448-459. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2013.01.007.

[24] Lubis, M.R., & Siregar, P.P. (2021). Implementation of diversion in case resolution children to realize protection law against children. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 27(2), 1001-1006. doi: 10.47750/cibg.2021.27.02.119.

[25] Maxwell, N., & Ablitt, J. (2022). “Walking the walk”: Peer mentoring in a youth diversion service. Retrieved from https://orca. cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/161318/.

[26] Meurmishvili, B. (2023). Opinion for the improvement of the alternative mechanism of criminal prosecution – Diversion of adults. Spectr, 8(2). doi: 10.52340/spectri.2023.08.02.07.

[27] Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. (2024). Crime statistics. Retrieved from https://info.police.ge/page?id=115.

[28] Muradyan, M., Askarbekov, A., Arushanyan, A., Koltsova, M., & Abuladze, S. (2020). Overview of measures applied to children in conflict with the law in post-Soviet countries: Non-custodial measures and diversion programmes. Global Campus Human Rights Journal, 4, 461-487. doi: 20.500.11825/2036.

[29] National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2022). Number of convicted persons by age at the time of committing the offence. Retrieved from https://www.stat.kg/ru/opendata/category/4984/.

[30] Neisse, K., & Singer, S.S. (2020). Juvenile delinquency in an international context. Criminology and Criminal Justice. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.567

[31] Otorbaev, K. (2018). Respecting the rights of children in conflict with the law. Retrieved from https://old.ombudsman.kg/images/ files/news/2018/specdokladi/detizzakon.pdf.

[32] Ozturk, B., Bell, A., McLeod, D.A., & Gentzler, R. (2022). Criminal justice diversion and the importance of program retention. Journal of Forensic Social Work, 6(1), 43-56. doi: 10.15763/issn.1936-9298.2022.6.1.43-56.

[33] Polglase, L., & Lambie, I. (2023). A sharp decline in youth crime: Reviewing trends in New Zealandʼs youth offending rates between 1998 and 2019. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 36(1), 42-62. doi: 10.1080/10345329.2023.2236730.

[34] Recommended by Economic and Social Council resolution No. 1997/30 “Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System”. (1997, July). Retrieved from https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/495404.

[35] Sandoy, T.A. (2020). Alternative (to) punishment: Assessing punishment experiences in youth diversion programmes. The British Journal of Criminology, 60(4), 911-929. doi: 10.1093/bjc/azz088.

[36] Santiago, P., Mongomerie, A., Delfabbro, P., Day, A., Pilkington, R., & Lynch, J. (2023). Early versus late contact with the youth justice system: Opportunities for prevention and diversion. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 36(1), 16-41. doi: 10.1080/10345329.2023.2214973.

[37] Shevchuk, O., Shevchuk, V., Kompaniiets, I., Lukashevych, S., & Tkachova, O. (2022). Features of ensuring the rights of drug addicts for rehabilitation in Ukraine and the European Union: Comparative legal aspect. Juridical Tribune, 12(2), 263-272. doi: 10.24818/TBJ/2022/12/2.07.

[38] Spytska, L. (2023a). Principles of delinquent behavior correction program creation for youth detention centers. Human Research in Rehabilitation, 13(2), 188-199. doi: 10.21554/hrr.092301.

[39] Spytska, L. (2023b). Social-psychological peculiarities of youth with delinquent behavior. Youth Voice Journal, 2, 9-17.

[40] State Programme for the Development of Justice for Children in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2014-2018. (2014, October). Retrieved from https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/75315/edition/591465/kg.

[41] Tashtanbek kyzy, А. (2023). International legal standards in the framework of juvenile law. Science, New Technologies and Innovations in Kyrgyzstan, 1, 111-114. doi: 10.26104/NNTIK.2023.49.34.027

[42] Teeuwen, A. (2019). Juvenile defendantsʼ right to be tried within a reasonable time in Cambodia: An international human rights analysis. Youth Justice, 19(1), 42-62. doi: 10.1177/1473225419833825.

[43] United Nations Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty. (2019, July). Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty- bodies/crc/united-nations-global-study-children-deprived-liberty.

[44] United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines). (1990, December). Retrieved from              https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/united-nations-guidelines-prevention-juvenile- delinquency-riyadh.

[45] United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules). (1985, November). Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/united-nations-standard-minimum-rules- administration-juvenile.

[46] Vatral, А. (2023). Legal regulation of combating organised crime in Ukraine: Сurrent state and areas of improvement. Scientific Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, 28(3), 17-27. doi: 10.56215/naia-herald/3.2023.17.

[47] Wilson, D.B., Brennan, I., & Olaghere, A. (2018). PROTOCOL: Police initiated diversion for youth to prevent future delinquent behavior: A systematic review protocol. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 14(1), 1-22. doi: 10.1002/CL2.208.

[48] Wong, J.S., Bouchard, J., Gravel, J., & Bouchard, M. (2016). Can at-risk youth be diverted from crime? A meta-analysis of restorative justice diversion programs. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 43(10), 1310-1329. doi: 10.1177/0093854816640835.

[49] Yusupaliev, I.K. (2020). Protection of the rights of minors during interrogation in criminal proceedings. Proceedings of the Universities of Kyrgyzstan, 4, 128-131. doi: 10.26104/IVK.2019.45.557.

[50]  Yusupova, K. (2022). Legal regulation of defence lawyerʼs involvement in criminal proceedings against minors: Genesis of the issue, stages of development. Law Journal of the National Academy of Internal Affairs, 12(2), 79-92. doi: 10.56215/04221202.79.

Suggested citation

Sheishekeeva, G., Smanaliev, K., Sydykova, Z., Ulan uulu, A., & Toktomambetova, K. (2024). Peculiarities of the formation and application of the institute of diversion (diverting) of children from criminal justice in the Kyrgyz Republic. Social and Legal Studios, 7(1), 124-134. https://doi.org/10.32518/sals1.2024.124