What problem does the juvenile criminal reform seek to address?

COMMENTS MR. DIRECTOR: The bill that amends Law No. 20.084 on juvenile criminal responsibility (Bill 15.589-07), submitted in 2022 following the rise in cases in the first half of that year and currently with the urgency of "immediate discussion" in the Senate, proposes to toughen penalties for adolescents who commit serious and repeated crimes, based on the assumption that this will improve public safety. However, the study by the National Prosecutor's Office published on July 30 shows a different picture: 2020-2021 was the period with the fewest cases in the decade and, nationwide, in 2025, cases remained below those recorded in 2015, although the Southern Macrozone already surpasses them. The study distinguishes three groups: those who enter for the first time, sometimes linked to drug use and criminal gangs; a majority who abandon crime after brief contact with the system; and 2.4% who account for 13.4% of crimes, mainly home robberies and surprise thefts. Toughening penalties changes the legal consequence of the act but does not address the factors explaining each trajectory: recruitment through drugs and gangs or repeated property thefts, processes already addressed by Law 21.527 and the National Juvenile Reintegration Service through prevention, specialized investigation, and intensive intervention according to the profile. Congress must explain which profile this increase in severity targets, why it would have a deterrent effect, and why the existing reintegration response would not be sufficient. Antonia Aguirre Director of Studies and Innovation Lucas Molina Lawyer Foundation Ciudad del Niño More about: Juvenile criminal responsibility Severity Reintegration