IMPACT OF IMPRISONMENT AND FLOGGING ON DELINQUENT TEENAGE GIRLS

Abstract

The rights of children and adolescents occupy an important and delicate role within legal systems. In the last ten years, juvenile crime has risen, leading to significant criticism of the punishments imposed on young offenders. A majority of this criticism targets imprisonment and flogging, as the Islamic Penal Code often sentences juveniles to confinement in correctional centers or flogging to help them grasp the severity of their behavior. With societal progress and greater access to technology, it can be argued that most adolescents, especially those over 12, are capable of understanding the seriousness of their actions. Among adolescents, teenage girls demand more attention when subjected to punishments due to their distinct psychological, emotional, and social traits. On the one hand, this group tends to be more emotionally vulnerable than boys, and inappropriate punishments can lead to more profound psychological consequences. Additionally, it is crucial to recognize that many delinquents’ teenage girls may be victims of social or familial issues, such as poverty, violence, or insufficient emotional support. Consequently, the social and cultural roles of girls in both families and society require that their punishments be designed to minimize harm and have the least possible social consequences for them. This research investigates the effects of imprisonment and flogging on delinquent teenage girls within Iran's criminal justice system. It aims to analyze how these punishments influence their future careers, social standing, education, and family circumstances. In doing so, the study examines imprisonment and flogging as traditional punitive measures and assesses their consequences. While many international laws and doctrinal views consider the application of such punishments inappropriate, it cannot be overlooked that, in specific instances, sentences involving imprisonment or flogging may be regarded as necessary for religious or rational reasons. The study seeks to determine which of these punishments, if required, has a less harmful impact on individuals, especially delinquent teenage girls, and which poses fewer risks to their future well-being.