Asian Journal of Criminal Justice and Forensic Studies

  • Received 30.01.2026,
  • Revised 11.05.2026,
  • Accepted 11.06.2026
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Vol. 2, No. 1, 2026
  • juvenile offenders; international standards; alternative measures; law enforcement practice; deprivation of liberty; specialised courts
  • https://doi.org/10.63621/ajcjfs/1.2026.99
  • Pages 99-113

The aim of the research was to determine the effectiveness of various models for reforming juvenile justice systems in Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan – with a comparative analysis of the Chinese experience. The study was conducted in three stages using a comprehensive methodology based on the analysis of regulatory acts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China, official statistics from international organisations, and reports from human rights institutions. The research results established three main reform models in the Central Asian countries: the establishment of a full-fledged network of 19 specialised juvenile courts in Kazakhstan; the transformation of judicial practice through the introduction of alternative sanctions without structural changes in Kyrgyzstan; and the gradual introduction of specialised elements coupled with an increase in the minimum age of responsibility in Uzbekistan. Empirical analysis revealed high effectiveness of the reforms through quantitative indicators: an 83.3% reduction in the number of convicted minors in Kazakhstan from 2,654 to 443 individuals, and a 92% reduction in the application of imprisonment to children in Kyrgyzstan from 178 to 13 cases during the period from 2005 to 2024. As of the end of 2024, minors constitute only 0.2% of the total prison population in Kazakhstan, corresponding to approximately 64 individuals out of 32,171 convicted persons. The proportion of minors in the total prison population decreased to 0.19-0.20% in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan compared to 0.80-1.67% in China and Uzbekistan. Legal analysis confirmed the gradual alignment of national legislation with international standards through the increase of the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Uzbekistan from 13 to 14 years and the introduction of comprehensive alternative sentencing measures. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential use of the analysis results for improving national strategies for juvenile justice reform, developing methodological recommendations for state authorities and international organisations, and formulating scientifically grounded approaches for the implementation of global child protection standards in post-Soviet legal systems

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