Czech Republic criminal justice reforms

Czech Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc has been advancing several legal reforms and policy shifts regarding criminal justice and sentencing.

In early September, the Minister defended recent legal reforms concerning sexual violence. Following a January 2025 change in legal definitions, rape is now defined as non-consensual sexual intercourse rather than intercourse forced by strength. Tejc stated that the Czech Republic does not belong to the group of countries that “lightly punish rape” and indicated a readiness to file complaints with the Supreme Court to address disproportionately lenient sentences. The Ministry of Justice is also reviewing amendments to align with European directives to combat violence against women.

By late September, the Ministry’s focus expanded to juvenile justice. Following an analysis of school-related incidents—including 138 investigated criminal offenses involving youth aggression or radicalization—Tejc proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 for the most serious offenses. While the government coalition favors a targeted reduction for severe crimes, the Committee for Victims’ Rights has warned against the move, arguing that prevention and social work are more effective than lowering the age of liability.