[REVISION HISTORY]

Italian legal reforms for minors and juvenile crime

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-04 19:44 UTC → 2026-08-23 10:37 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Italian ~~minors~~ legal reforms for minors and juvenile crime

In early July ~~2026~~ 2026, Italy enacted the “Liberi di scegliere” law, ~~a national anti‑mafia measure that extends permanent protection, economic aid, psychological support~~ providing protection and ~~social‑inclusion pathways~~ aid to minors and adults up to age 25 who wish to leave families linked to organised crime. Drafted by Judge Roberto Di Bella and backed by a broad parliamentary majority, the bill cleared the Chamber of Deputies on 1 July, the Senate on 15 July and was formally approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 July, awaiting publication in the Gazzetta Ufficiale. The legislation incorporates regional pilots from Calabria and Sicily and integrates civil‑society groups such as Libera and the Italian Episcopal Conference. leaving organized crime families. Concurrently, the government ~~retained the minimum criminal‑responsibility age at 14 but~~ introduced an “anti-maranza” security package, which includes a statutory presumption (iuris tantum) that ~~persons 14‑18~~ minors aged 14–18 possess the ~~requisite intent,~~ capacity to understand their actions, shifting the burden of proof to the defence. ~~The amendment, part of the “anti‑maranza” security package, was approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 July and reiterated by Parliament on 3 August. Critics—including~~ Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has championed these reforms, which modify the ~~Democratic Party, NGOs, UNICEF Italy~~ penal code to facilitate investigations and ~~the Salesians for the Social—warn that the shift may undermine rehabilitative aims~~ address rising juvenile violence. The measures extend preventive actions, such as pre-trial detention and ~~increase reliance~~ bans on ~~forensic psychiatric assessments, especially given uneven adolescent brain development. On 4 August 2026~~ aggregation, to this age group. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ~~announced a new norm targeting so‑called “baby gangs”, reaffirming~~ has defended the ~~presumption of criminal responsibility for 14‑ to 18‑year‑olds. She stressed~~ policy, citing public support and stating that the ~~measure does not automatically impose prison sentences but holds youths accountable, linking it~~ goal is to ~~broader initiatives on~~ hold youths accountable while simultaneously addressing root causes through education, sport, and family ~~support, school‑dropout prevention~~ support. Critics, including UNICEF, the Caritas network, and ~~overseas training to ensure safe public spaces. On 3 August 2026 Meloni told Skuola.net~~ various NGOs, warn that ~~a poll showed eight out of ten young Italians support~~ the ~~measures~~ shift ignores scientific evidence regarding adolescent brain development and risks replacing rehabilitation with punishment. Experts have noted that ~~many had written to her asking for an end~~ juvenile detention facilities are already facing significant overcrowding, following a 50% increase in inmates since the earlier “Caivano” decree. Opponents argue that the presumption of capacity may violate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by failing to ~~baby‑gang violence.~~ assess psychological maturity on a case-by-case basis.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.