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The main idea of this study is to make analysis on the law governing diversion programmes for juvenile delinquency in Tanzania, for the best interest of the child.
Diversion programmes are alternatives to initial or continued formal processing of offenders in the criminal justice system. The study is based on the idea that Tanzania does not provide adequate provisions of law and enough facilities for the diversion programmes to be well implemented in mainland Tanzania.
Thus this research study was conducted in Tanga region with the intention of making analysis of the law governing diversion programmes in Tanzanian for the best interest of the child. The study uses a descriptive research design as well as qualitative research approach in gathering information. Fifty respondents were involved in the study as the sample size. Research data were obtained through filling in the questionnaire forms, interviews as well as taking part in focus group discussions. Findings revealed that there are number of laws governing these programmes though not all of them have been incorporated under the Tanzania laws.
Again the study revealed that there are a lot of challenges which face these initiated programmes such as poor cooperation from parents, police desks not well prepared, the government does not allocate enough funds in implementing these programmes, lack of measures for preventing children from offending, ignorance of law among juveniles due to the language barrier and the only one English version of Child Act, and many other factors hindering implementation and smooth running of these programmes.
In that regard, the study recommends for eradicating these challenges which include, capacity building and training of social welfare officers, transformation of courts dealing with juvenile delinquency, enacting comprehensive provisions relating to diversion programmes, establishment of retention and reformatory facilities for juvenile delinquency, translation of Laws of Child Act into Kiswahili, including enhancement of international cooperation in assisting implementation of these diversion programmes in Tanzania. |
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