Revisiting the Significance of Social Investigations Reports: Bearing Witness to the Silent Testimonies from the Field

At CCL, our team continually strives to contribute to the discourse on child rights, child protection, and access to justice initiatives. In line with the same, our social workers authored a paper for the Fourth Issue of the Children First Journal on Children’s Lives published by the Delhi Commission of Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR). The paper drew from the social workers’ experience of preparing Social Investigation Reports (SIRs) and capturing the voices of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICLs) and their families. The SIR is a detailed and comprehensive report of a child which encompasses information pertaining to their social, economic and psychosocial situation and circumstances, other relevant factors, and the recommendation thereon (Rule (12(xvii)). It acts as a tool to aid social workers and the Juvenile Justice Board (Board) in understanding the circumstances of the CICLs through a psychosocial lens. 

The purpose of this article is threefold – first, to shine light on the disposition of children in the juvenile justice system; second, to document good practices for conducting SIRs (and similar tools) and third, to rethink the effectiveness of the tool in its current form. The paper also highlights the learnings and provides suggestions for preparing effective SIRs.

Link:

https://cfjournal.dcpcr.delhi.gov.in/index.php/dcpcr-children-first-journal/article/view/104