Minister unveils legal reforms to combat youth violence

Deputy Justice Minister Ioannis Bougas outlined the government's legal reforms on Tuesday aimed at addressing a surge in youth violence, including tougher penalties for parents who neglect the supervision of their minors.

"We must act on multiple fronts before this behavior escalates and harms society," Bougas told public radio ERT.

The reforms, he said, focus on three key areas: imposing tougher penalties under the penal code for minors and their guardians; amending civil law to ensure compensation for victims; and implementing stricter disciplinary measures in schools for rule violations.

Currently, legal guardians can face up to one year in prison for neglect, while parents can face up to two years. The new law will raise the minimum sentence to one year for guardians and two years for parents, with a maximum penalty of five years. Furthermore, if a minor...