Turkish draft bill tough on juvenile offenders gets committee approval

A new bill proposing life imprisonment for juvenile offenders aged 15 to 18 has received approval from Turkey’s Parliament’s Justice Committee. Proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the legislation marks a major shift in how the country addresses youth crime. Under the proposal, courts could impose life sentences for serious crimes committed by minors within that age range, though the final decision would rest with judicial authorities. The bill comes amid growing concerns over youth violence and the involvement of minors in criminal activities. Recent high-profile cases have drawn public attention to the issue. On January 24, 2025, 14-year-old Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi was fatally stabbed by a 15-year-old assailant at a street market in Istanbul. Minguzzi remained hospitalized for 16 days before passing away on February 9. Two months later, another tragic incident occurred in the northern province of Tokat, where 17-year-old national athlete Berkay Melikoğlu was murdered. More recently, 17-year-old Atlas Çağlayan died following a stabbing during an altercation in Istanbul on January 14, with preliminary reports suggesting the suspect was 15 years old. During discussions on the bill, Mehmet Ökmen, director general of legislation at the Justice Ministry, presented statistical data highlighting the scale of youth-related criminal activity. Investigations were initiated against 187,300 children in 2025, resulting in 412,775 alleged offenses. It was emphasized that not all of these cases would result in convictions or incarceration. Ökmen also highlighted patterns in recidivism, noting that individuals, whether juveniles or adults, who engage in theft tend to repeat similar offenses. In contrast, students involved in minor conflicts at school or in other educational settings rarely exhibit repeated behavioral issues. To underscore the need for stricter accountability, Ökmen referenced a German court case where a parent was found liable for failing to address missing traffic signs in their child’s room, leading to a fatal accident. This example was used to illustrate how parental responsibility can play a role in preventing youth involvement in crime. Additional figures were shared with the parliamentary committee, revealing the current state of juvenile justice in Turkey. There are 1,372 convicted juveniles and 3,191 minors in pretrial detention within the 12–18 age group. An additional 10,700 children are under probation supervision. Rehabilitation efforts have included 78,733 counseling and rehabilitation sessions, alongside 16,238 family meetings, 2,541 group counseling or intervention programs, and 1,033 training courses attended by 11,595 participants. Courts issued 97,881 protective measures for children in 2025, encompassing a wide array of interventions. These included 43,270 counseling measures, 23,612 education-based initiatives, 23,251 health-focused actions, 7,710 care-related steps, and 72 shelter or accommodation provisions. The existing workforce in juvenile education centers and prisons includes 2,300 specialists, comprising 990 psychologists, 208 social workers, and 369 sociologists. By year-end, officials plan to add 427 more professionals, including 290 psychologists, 10 child development experts, 52 social workers, and 75 educators, further strengthening the support network for juvenile offenders.