Thesis:

Iran's criminal policy towards criminals under 18 based on the Child and Adolescent Protection Law adopted in 2020

Juvenile delinquency, due to the particular nature of this age group, is always considered as one of the most important forms of delinquency by jurists and agents of the criminal justice system. Attention to the specific characteristics of these individuals in the process of responding to their criminal acts in the field of penal policy is a factor that necessitates a differential and distinct treatment of penal reactions of adult offenders. In Iran, the Differential Penal Policy was finally approved with a restorative justice and delinquency approach in 2013, after several ups and downs. The evolution of these laws is in accordance with international regulations to protect delinquent child and adolescent, where the vision of educational procedures as well as criminal procedures, the acknowledgement of non-judicial institutions by the judiciary and the establishment of special juvenile police have been considered the most important issues. In addition, the Juvenile Protection Act approved in 2020 with the aim that, in addition to delinquent juveniles, special attention should also be paid to victim juveniles, since with prevention and investigation, as well as attention to their grievances, the causes of their delinquency will also be significantly reduced. Despite these efforts, there appear to be legal gaps in the direction of this type of differential criminal policy, which some Iranian and foreign experts believe will disappear if Iran, like many other countries around the world, increasingly ratifies laws in the direction of international conventions laws and protection of children's rights.

Keywords: penal policy, juvenile delinquency, child and adolescent protection act, differential system.