Turkey Considers Lowering Criminal Age to 10 Years
Turkey Proposes Lowering Criminal Responsibility Age to 10
A parliamentary commission in Turkey has proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years as part of a wide-ranging reform of the juvenile justice system aimed at addressing the rise in youth crime.
Proposed legal changes
According to the Commission on the Causes of Child Involvement in Crime, the reform package includes several key amendments to the current system of juvenile justice.
- Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10 years
- Revising sentence reductions applied to minors aged 15–18
- Restricting the use of suspended sentences in serious criminal cases
- Introducing sanctions for parents who fail to support rehabilitation measures
- Establishing a centralized digital monitoring system for minors considered at risk
Officials state that the proposed reforms are intended to reduce juvenile crime rates and address public concerns about perceived impunity in serious offenses involving minors.
Reasons behind the proposal
The commission reports that the number of minors involved in criminal proceedings has increased by more than 50 percent over the past nine years. The most significant rise has been recorded in serious crimes, including homicide and drug-related offenses.
Authorities also point to a combination of social factors, including weak family supervision, limited access to education and employment opportunities, and the increasing influence of criminal networks targeting vulnerable youth.
Background and triggering incidents
The proposal follows a series of high-profile incidents that intensified public debate over juvenile crime policy in Turkey.
- The 2025 killing of Turkish-Italian teenager Mattia Ahmet Minguzzi
- A school shooting in Kahramanmaraş on April 15, 2026, which left 10 people dead
- An attack in Şanlıurfa in which 16 people were injured
Following these incidents, security measures in schools across the country were significantly strengthened, including increased police presence, stricter entry controls, and tighter visitor regulations.
Education and prevention measures
Alongside legal reforms, the commission also recommends updates to school curricula. Proposed changes include stronger emphasis on legal education, civic responsibility, and digital safety, as well as expanded programs aimed at preventing bullying and addressing the impact of social media on youth behavior.
The initiative reflects a broader effort to respond to rising concerns about youth involvement in serious crime and to strengthen preventive and corrective mechanisms within both the justice and education systems.
