Discussion over criminal accountability: CSU responds to actions of minors in Zirndorf and Fürth, CSU towns
Germany is currently engrossed in a public and political debate surrounding the age of criminal responsibility for minors, particularly those aged 12 to 14. This discourse has been ignited by a series of incidents involving this age group.
The Christian Social Union (CSU), a major political party in Bavaria, has taken the lead in advocating for a review of the current age limit for criminal responsibility. Petra Guttenberger, a CSU member of the Bavarian state parliament, has been vocal about this issue, emphasizing the need to consider the perspective of victims and maintain the rule of law.
The CSU faction has passed a package of applications in the Bavarian state parliament, one of which aims to review the current age limit for criminal responsibility. They are proposing an extension of the maximum duration of juvenile detention from four weeks to four months and an increase in the penalty range for particularly severe offenses by juveniles from ten to fifteen years.
However, it's important to note that Germany places heavy emphasis on child and youth welfare services and crime prevention strategies aimed at children and young people. The Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth oversees comprehensive child and youth welfare programs to support young people, including those at risk of exclusion or delinquency.
Institutions like the Centre for the Prevention of Youth Crime (Arbeitsstelle Kinder- und Jugendkriminalitätsprävention) promote tested and innovative prevention strategies, cooperation, and quality standards in youth crime prevention.
While Germany has not changed the legal age of criminal responsibility, cases involving minors committing crimes have sparked debates around whether reforms or stricter regulations are necessary. However, compared to places like the Australian Capital Territory, which recently raised the minimum age from 12 to 14, Germany appears to retain a focus on balancing accountability with social and therapeutic interventions for minors.
In neighboring countries like France, measures such as curfews for minors have been implemented to curb youth crime, but there is recognition that punitive approaches may not fully deter recidivism. This external context often informs German discussions about youth criminality and appropriate responses.
In summary, Germany's proposals and debates mainly revolve around strengthening child welfare, enhancing prevention, and ensuring rehabilitative rather than strictly punitive responses for minors aged 12-14. The focus lies on integrating social support with legal frameworks to prevent youth crime and reintegrate young offenders effectively within society.
[1] ABC News Australia (2023). Minimum age for criminal responsibility raised in ACT. [online] Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-15/minimum-age-for-criminal-responsibility-raised-in-act/131476064
[2] Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (n.d.). Prevention of Youth Crime. [online] Available at: https://www.bmfsfj.de/en/topics/youth/youth-crime/prevention-of-youth-crime.html
[3] Centre for the Prevention of Youth Crime (n.d.). About Us. [online] Available at: https://www.akju.de/en/about-us/
[4] BBC News (2022). France introduces night-time curfew for under-16s. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61284061
[5] Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (n.d.). Psychoactive Substances. [online] Available at: https://www.bmjv.de/en/topics/drug-policy/psychoactive-substances/
Firefighters from various policy-and-legislation committees have shown interest in the ongoing debate over the age of criminal responsibility for minors in Germany, particularly due to theSpotlight on the welfare and rehabilitation of young offenders. This interest in the general-news topic of youth crime and juvenile justice reforms stems from discussions surrounding the effectiveness of different approaches, such as France's implementation of night-time curfews for minors and the Australian Capital Territory's recent increase in the minimum age for criminal responsibility.
