A minor's crime is not minor
Proposes lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 and punishing people aged 14 and over for serious crimes such as rape, drug trafficking, torture and murder.
What the program says
The new government of Brazil will support and sign into law the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16. We will also punish people aged 14 and over who commit serious crimes, such as rape, drug trafficking, torture and murder. Whoever commits a crime like a grown-up will be punished like a grown-up. [p. 13]
In plain language
- Today, only people aged 18 or over are criminally liable as adults. The program proposes lowering that age to 16.
- For serious crimes — the text cites rape, drug trafficking, torture and murder — it provides for punishing people aged 14 and over as well.
- The government commits to supporting and signing the change into law.
What is not in the program
- It does not name the legal instrument (the age of criminal responsibility is set by a rule the text does not mention) nor the path through Congress.
- It does not define what punishment or regime would apply to adolescents aged 14 to 16.
- It gives no timeline.