He Javier Milei’s government and right to modify the youth criminal regime and reduce from 16 to 14 the age of imputability of minors that advances in Congress accumulates criticism of specialists, who warn by “brutal” damage that will provoke when locking children and point out that it is a “campaign policy” that takes the youngest hostage.
Low in the age of imputability
The project promoted by Libertad advances and the friendly opposition to the Government obtained majority opinion this Tuesday, May 6 and seeks to reform the legislation to lower the imputability age, from 16 to 14 years, although the Union Block for the Fatherland rejected the initiative presented a minority opinion to maintain the 16 as a threshold of the minimum of punishability.
The project accumulates criticism and questions of specialists of all colors, who warn of the risk and the serious consequences that the age of imputability for the development of minors could have, and indicate that the proposal in which the right was agglutinated does not present substantive solutions to social problems or demand for greater security.
The initiative obtained by opinion provides that if a young man is sentenced to sentences of 0 to 3 years, the effective prison sentence cannot be applied, while if it is 3 to 10, the judge must evaluate the possibility of combining effective prison with resocialization, containment and education options.
The prison sentence may also be applied if the crime exceeds 10 years in prison, although the top of sentences that could be taught are 15, since perpetual prison is not foreseen.
The criticisms of the specialists
The former security minister Sabina Frederic regretted the project And he assured that it can only be explained as a measure electoralsince the data indicates that this type of policies do not produce positive effects In minors, but quite the opposite.
“I think it’s a campaign policy”, Said Frederic, anthropologist, who in 2024 published the book What progressivism does not see (when security addresses), where he analyzes the difficulties of the popular field to discuss security policies, with human rights perspective and equity towards vulnerable sectors.
In statements to 750The former minister during the government of Alberto Fernández said that the project “shows an absolute loss of social sensitivity by the majority of deputies.” “It has consequences,” said the specialist.
“The damage we are going to produce Children under 16 for condemning them under the idea that confinement is a form of pedagogy It’s brutal “he added Frederic.
-In addition, he said that the consequences will not be Sçolo for children and adolescents. “They will get out of those places much worse than they entered,” he said.
To Fredericinstead of thinking about a Youth criminal regime – “Because the one we have is not good, because it is of the dictatorship and insufficient” – and “force to finance so that there are systems of prevention that have to do with the construction of shelter spaces for children, We decided to lock them up “.
But in addition, for the anthropologist it will also have a huge cost for the State, in a context where the Milei government shows that “there is no money.” “On behalf of this they will build places that will not be adequate either. We are in a horrible time”He said with frustration.
“Taking children hostage shows the level of detachment and irresponsibility of adults. Load the ink about children who do not have maturity to understand what is right and what is wrong. ”
“It’s a hunting,” they say from the children’s defender
Interviewed by the 750 Marisa GrahamNational defender of the rights of children and adolescents, explained, without turns, that the idea of lowering the age of imputability to end crime is simplya “hunting”, That is, a hoax that only seeks to attract the attention of the distracted.
“We are in a very particular moment. It seems that cutting the chain through the weakest links gives results. Beyond that it is unconstitutional, that it goes against the rights of children, and everything we already know, also gives me the feeling – and we were talking only with the network of defenders of Argentina – that the governors, who are the ones who vote to their deputies and senators, They are hitting a foot ”, affirmed.
Then, Graham He said: “Because lowering the punishability age at 14 implies a huge expense of conditioning of institutions, and that cost will have to endure them. And they are not even seeing it. I think that lowering age in Argentina is really a trap, a hunting. It has been convinced apart from the company to lower the punishability age will magically reduce the crime rate. ”
But the data show the opposite: “We have shown evidence until fed up in the Chamber of Deputies, but the population must be said clearly: Brazil, El Salvador, Ecuador —In the 90s— They lowered age at 12 years. And what happened? Today those three countries have a crime rate of 21 points. Very high. Instead, Argentina has a 4 -point rate. ”
“We must explain this to society, the lady, to the Lord: Lowering age at age 14 will not prevent, if you have to take your wallet or steal your carthat ceases to happen. What you have to fight in Argentina – and there you have to put the resources, the formation of the forces— It is drug trafficking and organized crime. That, many times, he has participation of the police themselves, ”he concluded.
