Romania's legal approach to juvenile delinquency

In Romania, the legal framework for juvenile delinquency emphasizes rehabilitation and the potential for change rather than lifelong stigmatization. Under current laws, children under 14 are not criminally liable. Those between 14 and 16 are held accountable only if they are proven to have acted with discernment, a determination that requires thorough psychiatric and medico-legal expertise regarding their maturity and understanding of consequences.

From age 16, minors are subject to criminal law, which provides for educational measures that may or may not include deprivation of liberty. The goal of these judicial interventions is to foster responsible behavior and facilitate reintegration into society, guided by European standards that mandate legal assistance and individualized assessments of a child's protection and educational needs.