Czech Republic criminal justice reform debates

The Czech Republic is undergoing discussions regarding various criminal justice reforms. Initial debates focused on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for the most serious violent crimes. This proposal, supported by Supreme State Prosecutor Lenka Bradáčová and a majority of the public, is driven by data suggesting that 13- and 14-year-olds are responsible for up to 60% of violent juvenile crime. Concurrently, officials have called for reforms to juvenile institutions to better manage high-risk youth and improve security.

Further legislative considerations include the potential creation of an alternative penal code for politicians, which might offer community service in lieu of imprisonment. Additionally, Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc has proposed stricter deportation rules, mandating that non-EU citizens who commit serious violent or sexual offenses be deported after serving their prison sentences. While some lawmakers view this as a tool to combat crime and illegal migration, others have raised concerns regarding the enforceability of such deportations for individuals facing risks of torture or the death penalty in their home countries.

Expanding on these efforts, the Ministry of Justice has proposed amendments to increase penalties for violent crimes and address modern forms of violence. The proposal includes criminalizing digital harassment, such as the intentional sending of unsolicited intimate photographs, which could result in up to one year in prison if the act causes serious harm like psychological distress or loss of employment. The ministry also seeks to penalize genital mutilation and the unauthorized publication of personal contact information for harassment purposes. Furthermore, the amendment aims to remove alcohol and drug intoxication as mitigating circumstances in serious violent crimes, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable regardless of their state of intoxication.