Minister Tunç signals new regulations for juvenile offenders: Penalties are being toughened

Recent successive murders in Turkey have reopened the debate on the penalties imposed for crimes committed by minors.

The killing of 15-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi in Istanbul's Kadıköy district and the fatal stabbing of Hakan Çakır in Ankara's Keçiören district have sparked public outrage.

NEW REGULATION ON THE WAY

Following the series of incidents, President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued instructions for new legal regulations concerning both those who lead children into crime and the responsibilities of families.

WE WILL TAKE STEPS FOR THE PEACE OF SOCIETY

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced in a post on his social media account that comprehensive changes will be made to the Turkish Penal Code and certain other laws to prevent children from being dragged into crime and to protect the peace of society.

Citing the Hakan Çakır murder in Ankara as an example, Tunç said, "This incident has revealed how serious a threat violent incidents involving perpetrators under the age of 18 pose to our society."

COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES ON THE TABLE

Minister Tunç also shared the main headings of the new regulations. Accordingly:

Sentence reductions for children in the 15-18 age group will be reviewed.

Penalties for mistreatment of children or individuals in need of care will be increased.

Sanctions regarding the violation of family obligations will be strengthened.

Social investigation reports will be made mandatory in juvenile cases.

Sentences of juvenile convicts will be served in closed juvenile prisons.

Sanctions will be applied in cases of negligence by public officials.

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç's social media post is as follows:

The tragic incident that occurred in Ankara's Keçiören district, which led to the loss of our young brother Hakan Çakır, has deeply saddened us all. The investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the crime of "intentional killing" regarding the suspects apprehended after the incident is being conducted in a multi-faceted manner, and 4 suspects have been arrested by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

I wish God's mercy upon our brother who lost his life, and patience for his family and loved ones. Violence, no matter who it comes from or who it is directed at, can never be accepted. Following the loss of our child Ahmet Minguzzi and similar incidents, violent acts involving perpetrators under the age of 18 have become an issue that we must focus on meticulously.

In this context, a need has arisen for new regulations in our Turkish Penal Code and some other laws regarding the investigation, prosecution, and execution phases in order to prevent children from being dragged into crime and to protect the peace of our society.

Reviewing the sentence reduction rates stipulated in Article 31 of the TPC for children in the 15-18 age group,

Increasing the penalties for systematic mistreatment of children or individuals in need of care,

Strengthening the sanctions for crimes related to the violation of family obligations,

Ensuring that social investigation reports are made mandatory in juvenile cases and preventing them from being obtained without justification,

Ensuring that the sentences of juvenile convicts are served in closed juvenile prisons and that they can be transferred to educational homes upon improvement,

Increasing inter-institutional coordination for the effective implementation of protective and supportive measures taken for children, and providing for sanctions for public officials who show negligence or delay,

Implementing comprehensive regulations such as applying effective sanctions against mothers, fathers, or those responsible who act contrary to the protective measures taken for the benefit of the child are on our agenda.

Our goal is to ensure the safety of society while observing the best interests of the child. We will take our steps decisively to protect our children from being dragged into crime, to prevent victimization, and to ensure that our families do not experience such pain again. We will complete the regulations we are focusing on with sensitivity by consulting with all stakeholders as soon as possible and will submit our draft work to the appreciation of our deputies with the start of the legislative year.

News Source: 12punto