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[POLITICS] · Brazil · 18 sources

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Brazil: President Lula supports reducing criminal age for heinous crimes

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a shift in his political stance, declaring support for reducing the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 years specifically for heinous crimes. This position, which marks a departure from his historical opposition to the measure, is being integrated into the government's Public Security PEC, which also seeks to centralize the fight against organized crime and militias at the federal level.

Data from a Datafolha poll indicates that 80% of Brazilians support reducing the criminal age to 16. While support is broad, political affiliation creates a divide: 89% of Flávio Bolsonaro supporters favor the change, compared to 70% of Lula supporters. The debate has become a central point of contention in the Senate, where various amendments have been proposed, including more radical measures by the opposition to reduce the age to 14 in certain severe cases.

Critics and sociologists have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of the measure, noting that violent crimes by adolescents in the socio-educational system actually decreased by 43% between 2016 and 2024. Opponents argue that the current system's failures and social inequalities are the primary drivers of juvenile crime, rather than the age of legal responsibility.

Entities

Brazil · Brazilian Senate · Camilo Santana · Datafolha · Davi Alcolumbre · Flávio Bolsonaro · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

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