Italy’s right-wing coalition government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has approved a controversial bill that would shift the burden of proof in determining the criminal responsibility of minors aged 14 to 18.
The draft legislation, which seeks to amend Article 98 of the Italian Penal Code, was announced Thursday by the Prime Minister’s Office. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio stressed that the measure does not lower the age of criminal responsibility, which remains at 14, nor does it increase penalties for minors. “The new provision concerns the presumption of criminal responsibility,” Nordio explained at a news conference following the Cabinet meeting.
Currently, Italian law requires that a minor’s criminal capacity be established on a case-by-case basis, assessing their ability to understand the nature and consequences of their actions. The new bill would reverse this approach by presuming that individuals aged 14 to 18 possess such capacity unless evidence from investigations or court-ordered assessments proves otherwise.
Prime Minister Meloni defended the measure in a video message, arguing that those who commit crimes like assaults, robberies, or vandalism “must always pay the price,” regardless of being 15 or 16 years old. She said the bill targets both those who exploit minors for criminal activity and young offenders who act with a sense of impunity.
The opposition Democratic Party (PD) criticized the proposal, with lawmaker Matteo Mauri warning it risks “criminalizing an entire generation” instead of focusing on prevention, education, and social inclusion. Advocacy group Save the Children also opposed the bill, cautioning that it could lead to treating adolescent offenders the same as adults, ignoring the unique vulnerabilities of minors.
Save the Children called for the continued individual assessment of criminal responsibility for those aged 14 to 18, and greater investment in educational and preventive initiatives. The bill must now be debated and passed by both chambers of Italy’s parliament before it can become law.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com