JUVENILE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: HISTORICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article examines the process of formation and development of juvenile justice from its birth to a full-fledged state policy, examines and highlights the peculiarities of the work of a juvenile prosecutor in criminal proceedings against a minor, draws attention to the importance of the effective functioning of juvenile justice in Ukraine. In particular, it was investigated that the first manifestations of a special approach to minors in judicial proceedings can be traced in Roman law, namely in the laws of the XII Tables. However, only at the end of the 19th century, a turning point in the field of juvenile justice can be noticed, when on July 2, 1899, a special juvenile court was created in Chicago (Illinois). From this historical period to the present day, the formation and development of juvenile justice is on the agenda in most countries of the world. The authors researched a number of international treaties in the field of protection of the rights and freedoms of minors, in particular: the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice («Beijing Rules») of November 29, 1985 year, UN Guidelines for the Prevention of Crime among Minors, 1990 («Riyadh Guidelines») and others. A number of normative legal acts of Ukrainian legislation regarding the peculiarities of the juvenile prosecutor's work were also studied. The article draws attention to the fact that the main task of the juvenile prosecutor in criminal proceedings against a minor is to protect the rights and interests and ensure, in cases defined by law, «removal» from the criminal process. The authors emphasize that effectively functioning juvenile justice ensures a reduction in traumatic experiences for minors, which subsequently leads to a reduction in their committing criminal offenses.