The Environmental Dimensions Of Adult Offending In India: Legal Gaps And Emerging Jurisprudence

Abstract

Young adulthood constitutes a distinct developmental period characterized by ongoing biological, psychological, and social maturation. This paper examines interdisciplinary perspectives from legal, psychological, sociological, and biological fields to understand criminal behavior among young adults. Through analysis of comparative legal systems and international criminological research, it advocates for specialized legal approaches to young adult offenders. The research synthesizes evidence from developmental neuroscience, criminological theory, and socio-legal scholarship to demonstrate that the current practice of treating young adults as fully mature under criminal law fails to account for critical empirical findings and normative principles. The paper culminates in proposing doctrinal reforms for age-appropriate justice mechanisms within the Indian legal framework.