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Türkiye's Parliament approved legislation changing the country's juvenile justice system, allowing tougher penalties for minors convicted of serious crimes and giving judges greater discretion over age-based sentence reductions.
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) passed the bill amending the Child Protection Law and several other laws, introducing changes affecting children involved in criminal proceedings.
Under the legislation, the term "child driven to crime" will be replaced in the Child Protection Law with "child in judicial proceedings."
Under the new law, offenders who were at least 15 but under 18 at the time of an offense can receive prison sentences of between 19 and 27 years when the crime would normally carry aggravated life imprisonment.
For offenses normally punishable by life imprisonment, the applicable prison term for the same age group will range from 15 to 18 years.
Judges will also be given discretion not to apply age-based sentence reductions to children aged 15 to 18 convicted of intentional killing or aggravated injury resulting in serious consequences.
For children aged 12 to 15 convicted of the same offenses, judges will be able to apply the sentencing regime used for the next age group.
The law also introduces criminal liability for people who allow a child to obtain a firearm because it was stored without the required care and attention.
Unless the act constitutes another offense carrying a heavier penalty, those responsible can be sentenced to between one and three years in prison.
The legislation makes social assessments mandatory for children under the age of 15 who are involved in judicial proceedings.
If a prosecutor, court or juvenile judge decides not to order a social assessment for a child aged 15 or older, the reason must be stated in the indictment or judicial decision.
If a public prosecution is brought against a child, the case will also be reported to provincial or district offices of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Ministry of National Education so that necessary administrative measures can be taken.
A new provision added to the Child Protection Law establishes "guidance measures" as child-specific security measures for children in judicial proceedings who do not have criminal responsibility.
Law enforcement assistance may be requested when necessary during the implementation of protective and supportive measures by relevant institutions or organizations.
Coordination among institutions responsible for implementing such measures will be carried out by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. At the provincial and district levels, coordination and monitoring will be handled by governors and district governors.
Parents, guardians or other people responsible for a child's care and supervision who fail to comply with protective and supportive measures ordered for the child may be sentenced by a juvenile judge to coercive detention ranging from three to 10 days, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, even if the conduct also constitutes a criminal offense.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said the legislation would strengthen Türkiye's juvenile justice system by increasing deterrence for serious crimes while maintaining the principle of the child's best interests.
In a post on his NSosyal account, Gurlek said the law had been approved by Parliament and would strengthen measures against the use of children by criminal organizations while making social assessments mandatory for children under 15.
"With the new regulation, the way has been opened for more deterrent sanctions for serious crimes, the fight against the use of children by criminal organizations has been strengthened, and social assessments have become mandatory for children under the age of 15," Gurlek said.
He also said the government had previously pledged to change concepts and practices that associate children directly with crime.
Gurlek said the introduction of the term "child in judicial proceedings" instead of "child driven to crime" reflected that approach.
"While protecting our children from criminal organizations, street gangs, drugs, violence and the dangers of the digital world, we will also resolutely fulfill the requirements of justice in the face of serious crimes that threaten the lives and property of our citizens," Gurlek said.
"Under the leadership of our president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, we will continue to improve our justice system for a safer and fairer Türkiye, where our children grow up in security, and the peace of our families is strengthened."
Gurlek thanked parliament, lawmakers from the People's Alliance, the Justice Commission and all institutions that contributed to preparing and passing the legislation.
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