The Significance of the Republic Act 9344 Also Known as The Juvenile and Welfare System of the Philippines

The Republic Act 9344 which is also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System of the Philippines is concerned with the rehabilitation, reformation and protection of the children in conflict with the law and children at risk. It is a system of law that provides child appropriate proceeding including the aftercare of the said person. The law took effect on April 28, 2006.

According to the United Nations (UN) Children’s Fund an estimated 4,000 children were imprisoned at the end of 2005, most of them charged with minor crimes. Under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) of the Philippines a human being divided into four parts, the age of absolute irresponsibility nine (9) year old and below, the age of conditional responsibility fifteen (15) years old to eighteen years old, the age of full responsibility eighteen (18) years old to seventy (70) years old and the age of mitigated responsibility fifteen years old to eighteen years old to seventy years old and below. Luis Reyes states that a youthful offender who is a minor and over nine years of age but less that eighteen years old at the time of the commission of the crime, but the law has been amended by the new juvenile system of the Philippines.

The age of criminal responsibility now is fifteen years to eighteen years of age, but will only be convicted if the child has acted with discernment. It has been proven that parents have a great impact on the development of the child. Children who do not feel love and security from the parents will likely to resort into something that would turn their attention to them. Juvenile delinquents aren’t born delinquents. They are also victims of their emotional vulnerability