Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B (2025)

Introduction: Girls in conflict with the law are underrepresented within juvenile justice systems, often criminalized less for intent than for survival strategies shaped by abuse, poverty, and neglect. Despite their vulnerabilities, research in India has remained predominantly focused on boys, leaving gendered pathways into conflict with law underexplored.
Methods: This qualitative case study was conducted in two government-run Observation Homes for girls in Assam (Jalukbari and Nagaon). Using purposive sampling, five girls aged 14-18 were selected, all legally categorized as Children in Conflict with Law under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Data were collected through socio-demographic schedules and semi-structured interviews. Case vignettes were constructed and content analysis and thematic analysis was applied. Ethical safeguards included institutional permissions, informed consent/assent, confidentiality, and trauma-informed interviewing.
Results: Five in-depth case vignettes revealed consistent patterns of cumulative vulnerabilities. Key themes included familial disruption (broken or conflicted homes, absent parents), socio-economic deprivation (poverty, refugee/border displacement), educational disruption (dropout, irregular schooling), and psychosocial distress (loneliness, trauma, neglect). Pathways into conflict with the law included trafficking (Cases 1, 2), wrongful implication in familial disputes (Case 3), peer-influenced theft (Case 4), and substance use (Case 5). Institutional response provided custodial care but limited psychosocial rehabilitation.
Conclusion: Findings validate the hypotheses that cumulative vulnerabilities precede girls’ legal involvement and that family disruption, poverty, lack of education, and abuse consistently shape their life trajectories. The study highlights the need for gender-sensitive, intersectional, and trauma-informed juvenile justice reforms that prioritize prevention, education, and reintegration over punitive measures.