Restorative juvenile criminal justice and alternative measures from a humane approach to the victim

Abstract

This study is justified by the need to rethink the traditional approach to juvenile criminal justice, which has proven insufficient to comprehensively address the needs of both adolescent offenders and victims of crime. Its objective is to analyze the effectiveness of the restorative juvenile criminal justice model under the new Code of Criminal Responsibility for Adolescents, focusing on reparation of harm, personal responsibility, and the social reintegration of adolescent offenders. This model centers the victim, promoting their active participation in the conflict resolution process.Through a qualitative, descriptive, and documentary methodology, this study examines the normative and doctrinal foundations, as well as international comparative experiences, in restorative justice. It concludes that this approach not only improves reparation for harm but also promotes a more humane, equitable, and transformative justice system, prioritizing dialogue and reconciliation among the parties involved. The findings highlight that the model’s effectiveness depends on inter-institutional cooperation, the appropriate allocation of resources, the training of specialized professionals, and institutional commitment to overcoming the punitive paradigms inherited from the adult criminal justice system. Ultimately, this approach proposes a more inclusive justice system, focused on rehabilitation, recidivism prevention, and the well-being of victims.