Prioritizing Penal Reforms for Adolescents in Ecuador: Using Neutrosophic TOPSIS and Hausdorff Distance

Abstract

This question builds upon the issue of Ecuador's minors not being liable as growing juvenile delinquents and those between 16-18 not receiving punishment for their actions will only foster more juvenile delinquents and complicate public safety and socio-protective efforts. This question is increasingly urgent given the recent upsurge in juvenile delinquency—grave crimes—and the vulnerable balance that exists between juvenile rights and social equity. While the literature is rich regarding the phenomenon of juvenile crime and delinquency, very few offer a truly feasible methodology that integrates equity, punishment, and social responsibility given the assessed social reality. Therefore, the neutrosophic TOPSIS method compounded with the Hausdorff distance will allow for a quantitative assessment of potential outcomes from penal changes that are ranked according to the socially assessed importance. The neutrosophic TOPSIS method is an assessment approach that allows for decision-making based on uncertain or vague data which inherently applies to the legal field. Thus results show that when non-liability is essentially an equivocal decision of unpunished decision, then for severe crimes that are assessed as truly detrimental, proportional punishments must be assessed. This research serves to expand the boundaries of the field by compounding the use of the neutrosophic TOPSIS method for assessment as a novel means by which to assess potential changes. In addition, the method allows for equity and social awareness consideration to protect public safety and institutional integrity; thus, the results support potential public policy adjustments that increase equity of an almost inequitable justice system both within Ecuadorian law and for socio-protective purposes.