Small children indulge in offences due to their wrong/inadequate upbringing and their surrounding social, cultural environment and hence can not be held responsible for the same. The "Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 contains following provisions with a view to meting out proper treatment and justice to them:

•   Establishment of Special Homes to rehabilitate the juvenile offenders after imparting them education and vocational training.

•   Establishment of Inspection Homes to keep the children [from the Children's Home] against whom investigation of offences is pending.

•   Any police officer or any member of an approved social organisation, who is of the opinion that, a particular child is neglected, can take that child in his possession and arrange to produce the child before the Juvenile Court, as early as possible. The stipulated period of time for producing a neglected child before the Board is 24 hours.

•   If the Police Officer, after investigation, is of the opinion that a child is neglected, such child (if a boy, upto the age of 18 years and if a girl, upto the age of 21 years) is to be kept in the Remand Home.

•   Under no circumstances, a death sentence or imprisonment should be awarded to a juvenile offender for any offence.

•   Trial of any juvenile offender should not be taken alongwith any adult even if he is a co-offender.

•   Whosoever treats a child with cruelty, beats, neglects, abandons or tries to put mental and physical pressure on him/her, shall be liable for punishment with imprisonment for six months or fine or with 'both.

•   Whomsoever encourages a child to beg or employees him/her for the purpose of begging, shall be liable for punishment with imprisonment for 3 years or fine or with both.

•   Whosoever, causes a child to consume alcohol or narcotic drugs, shall be liable for punishment extending upto 3 years.

•   Whosoever employees a child but procures the earning of the child and deprives the child thereof shall be liable for punishment upto 3 years.

•   For bringing about improvement in the juvenile offenders, the Probation Officer, has been appointed to inspect Special Homes and Inspection Homes.