Jurisdiction of the Peace Court in Handling Crimes Committed by Children and Adolescents
Subject Areas : Criminal law and criminologyAmirhossein Fathi 1 * , Amirhossein Talebi 2
1 - 1 Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Islamic Azad University, Shahre-Qods Branch, Shahre-Qods, Iran
2 - 2 Department of Law, Faculty of Law, Islamic Azad University, Shahre-Qods Branch, Shahre-Qods, Iran
Keywords: Peace Court, children and adolescents, Article 12 of the Dispute Resolution Council Law, criminal justice, judicial challenges.,
Abstract :
The present article examines the jurisdiction of the Peace Court (Dadgāh-e Solh) in adjudicating crimes committed by children and adolescents. Drawing on Article 12 of the Law on the Dispute Resolution Council, this study analyzes the role of these courts within Iran’s judicial system and evaluates their legal foundations, practical mechanisms, opportunities, and challenges in handling juvenile-related offenses. The research method is hybrid, relying on library sources, legal document analysis, and theoretical studies. The article first explores the historical background and objectives behind the establishment of the Peace Court and then analyzes how these courts process juvenile cases as compared with general criminal courts. The findings demonstrate that due to their less formal and more flexible structure, Peace Courts can serve as an effective mechanism for addressing offenses committed by minors. Unlike ordinary courts, Peace Courts emphasize amicable settlement, conflict resolution, and guiding juveniles toward rehabilitation and reform rather than imposing purely punitive measures. This approach not only reduces the caseload burden on general courts but also promotes a more equitable and developmentally appropriate administration of justice for minors. Finally, the study proposes recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of Peace Courts in handling juvenile offenses. These suggestions include strengthening the legal and administrative infrastructure of these courts, improving judges’ and experts’ awareness of child and adolescent psychology, and formulating clearer guidelines aimed at preventing repeated offending. These measures can contribute to reinforcing the national judicial system and advancing social and legal objectives in the realm of juvenile justice.
قرآن کریم
قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی ایران
بیانات مقام معظم رهبری در دیدار با مسئولان قضایی، به نقل از پایگاه اطلاع‌رسانی دفتر حفظ و نشر آثار حضرت آیت‌الله‌العظمی خامنه‌ای
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قانون شوراهای حل اختلاف. (۱۴۰۲). تهران: پایگاه پژوهشکده شورای نگهبان.
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