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Brazilian legislative debate on criminal age reduction

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2026-08-12 21:36 UTC → 2026-08-13 15:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies has installed a special commission to analyze Proposed Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) 32/2015, which seeks to reduce the criminal age from 18 to 16 years. The commission, presided over by Deputy Aluísio Mendes with Deputy Mendonça Filho serving as rapporteur, has between 10 and 40 plenary sessions to review the proposal and submit a report. The amendment specifically targets 16 and 17-year-olds involved in heinous crimes, such as homicide, rape, and torture. If approved by the special commission, the text must pass through two rounds of voting in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, requiring a three-fifths majority. The proposal faces significant opposition from the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP). The SBP argues there is no scientific evidence that reducing the criminal age decreases juvenile crime, noting that minors under 18 are responsible for only 0.5% to 2% of homicides. Critics and social organizations have also warned that the change could lead to mass incarceration without improving public safety. Proponents, however, argue that current adolescent legislation is too lenient. Due to the upcoming October elections, the rapporteur has indicated that a final vote on the commission’s report may not occur until after the electoral period.

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