Avoidance of Unnecessary Delay in

Juvenile Justice

Olga Petrova, Associate Professor (Belarusian State

University), email : petrova@open.by

International Standards

Art. 20.1 UN Standard Minimum Rules for the

Administration of Juvenile Justice ("The Beijing

Rules"), adopted by General Assembly resolution

40/33 of 29 November 1985

“Each case shall from the outset be handled

expeditiously, without any unnecessary delay”

Art. 40 b (iii) the Convention on the Rights of Child,

adopted by General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20

November 1989

Special Reasons for Avoidance Delay in

Juvenile Cases

Lower intellectual and psychological ability to relate

s/he has done and what will be consequences of

his/her actions.

Best interests of child

Time element for child is more important than for adults,

etc.

Risk of commitment other offences

How to provide appropriate duration of

juvenile cases

Establishment of time frames for criminal

proceedings

Control of the reasons of extension of proceeding’s

time

Caseload management

etc.

Diversion, inc. Restorative Justice program,

and Avoiding Undue Delay

“+” diversion and informal justice cut time of case

adjudication

“-” it takes additional time in of case the program has been failed

Thank you for your attention!