Cabinet discusses measures to address juvenile violence: Fines for parents and juvenile detention for minors as young as 14

The responsible ministries are moving towards tightening the Penal Code concerning the criminal actions of minors after the noted increase in delinquency. This issue will be discussed at today’s cabinet meeting at the Maximos Mansion, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who will address the topic in his introductory remarks.

Stricter provisions are expected to be introduced regarding the punishment of parents or guardians who neglect their supervisory role over their children. The age limit for placing minors in juvenile detention centers will also be lowered.

The proposed changes will be presented by the Ministers of Civil Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis and Justice Giorgos Floridis. The minimum penalty will be set at one year, and the age at which a teenager can be sent to a reformatory will be lowered from 15 to 14 years. Additionally, stricter penalties will be introduced in cases of possession of weapons or if a minor is a repeat offender.

Currently, regarding the criminal treatment of minors, the law states that “a criminal act committed by a minor aged 12 to 15 is not attributed to them. The court may impose reformative or therapeutic measures.” For minors who have committed a criminal act and are over 15, reformative or therapeutic measures are imposed unless detention in a special juvenile detention center is deemed necessary. With the new regulations, detention can be imposed on minors who are 14 years old.

Reformative Measures for Minors

So far, the reformative measures that can be imposed on minors include:

• Reprimand of the minor
• Assignment of responsible custody to parents or guardians
• Placement in a foster family
• Custody by protective companies, juvenile institutions, or juvenile probation officers
• Reconciliation between the minor offender and the victim for an apology and out-of-court settlement
• Compensation to the victim or other ways to mitigate the consequences of the act by the minor
• Participation in social and psychological programs offered by state, municipal, or private organizations
• Enrollment in vocational or other educational training programs
• Participation in traffic safety or other special educational, artistic, cultural, or sports programs
• Mandatory community service

Parental Responsibility and Penalties

Due to the rise in juvenile violence, provisions for neglect of parental supervision are being more rigorously enforced, holding parents and guardians legally responsible for their children’s delinquent behavior. Previously, the punishment included up to one year of imprisonment. The new regulations will impose a minimum one-year prison sentence and a fine of at least €5,000 if the minor’s act involves violence or targets another minor. In certain cases, the fine could reach €10,000, and the prison sentence may extend to two years.

Rise in Juvenile Crime

From January to August 2024, 7,180 cases of juvenile delinquency were recorded nationwide. Here are some notable incidents in September:

• September 3, Zakynthos: Minors were reported to have bullied and stolen from a 14-year-old for months.
• September 14, Patras: A 12-year-old hit a 14-year-old in a fight over a girl.
• September 15, Petroupoli: Minors threatened two boys, aged 15 and 16, with a knife to rob them.
• September 16, Chania: Three minors arrested for attacking and slashing a 17-year-old’s face.
• September 16, Palaio Faliro: Three minors arrested for attacking their peers.
• September 16, Athens: A group of minors attacked and robbed a 23-year-old on Ermou Street.
• September 16, Thessaloniki: A 15-year-old was violently attacked by six peers.
• September 20, Pangrati: A brawl outside a school left two minors injured.
• September 24, Thessaloniki: A 16-year-old was seriously injured by a group of minors.
• September 25, Ermioni: A 17-year-old shaved a 12-year-old’s head with a razor at school.
• September 26, Ioannina: A fight outside a middle school resulted in three injuries and 13 arrests.
• September 26, Alimos: A student threatened a teacher and damaged the principal’s office.
• September 27, Heraklion: A school principal was attacked by a 14-year-old student.
• September 27, Lavrio: A knife fight between two groups of minors outside a vocational school left two injured.

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