Honduras sees surge, Chile reports decline in juvenile crime arrests

In Honduras, the Dirección Policial de Investigaciones (DPI) recorded 310 minors arrested between January and the current date in 2026, a rise of more than 78 % compared with the same period in 2025 when 174 were detained. The most common offenses among the youths were drug trafficking, robbery, illegal firearm possession, homicide and sexual crimes, and officials warned that organized criminal groups are increasingly recruiting adolescents.

In Chile, a report from the Fiscalía Nacional covering 2015‑2025 shows a 20 % reduction in the number of adolescents entering the penal system over the past decade. The study notes a concentration of offenses in a small group of youths, a gradual increase in drug‑related offenses since 2021, and a decline in property crimes. Overall case numbers remain below 2015 levels, with regional variations that keep some southern zones above earlier figures. The typical offender is a 16‑ or 17‑year‑old male.