New model coming for 'children dragged into crime'
The Ministry of Justice is continuing its efforts to adapt the diversion system, which is implemented in Europe, to Turkey in order to prevent children from being dragged into crime. With this model, social integration will be prioritized without the incident being recorded in the criminal record.
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In order to prevent children from becoming involved in crime and to ensure their reintegration into society, the Ministry of Justice has begun preparations for an alternative practice called diversion. In this system, children who become involved in crime are monitored through different methods without being included in classic judicial processes.
THE GOAL IS REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY
Within the scope of this alternative approach, children participate in various educational programs and receive verbal or written warnings when necessary. Thus, efforts are made to reintegrate children into society without them being taken to courtrooms or sent to penal institutions. In this process, the responsibility does not remain solely with the children; families are also required to ensure their children are included in the system and accept their obligations.
Meral Gökkaya, Head of the Department of Judicial Support and Victim Services at the Ministry of Justice, stated that current methods can be insufficient in distancing children from the world of crime. Gökkaya said, "The fears of 'I will be tried, I will receive a sentence, I will go to prison' are diminishing. 'I am now a criminal personality'; they feel themselves within such a role and fulfill the requirements of that role."
DETAILS OF THE NEW MODEL
With the diversion model, if the child complies with the determined rules, the case is closed without a lawsuit being filed against them, and this process is in no way reflected in their criminal record. However, in the event that obligations are not fulfilled, the classic judicial process is activated.
The alternative model is successfully implemented in a total of 16 countries, primarily in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. With the implementation of this practice in Turkey, the goal is both to prevent the future of children from being negatively affected and to strengthen social integration.