Criminal gangs recruiting children is a concern for Turkey, as they contemplate stricter punishments for minors involved in these activities.
In a bid to tackle the rising issue of youth crime, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has announced draft legislation that will be submitted to Parliament. The new legislation, aimed at addressing "children driven to crime," will focus on the 15-18 age group.
Minister Tunc, in collaboration with academics and practitioners, is conducting studies to find ways to ensure deterrence and prevent crime. This comes as former Criminal Department Head Irfan Bayar emphasized the importance of deterrence in combating youth crime. Bayar also stressed that families share responsibility when children turn to crime and must face sanctions.
The new legislation aims to reduce sentence discounts as age increases. Currently, children aged 12-15 receive a 50% sentence reduction, while those aged 15-18 receive one-third sentence reductions. However, the current juvenile justice framework in Turkey does not penalize children under 12.
The legislation focuses on 15-to-18-year-olds based on their age and the crimes committed. This decision is made in light of social changes such as earlier development of maturity, which necessitates appropriate legal and educational interventions for younger individuals involved in offenses.
Meanwhile, criminal gangs are exploiting these loopholes. They are recruiting minors through social media platforms, with groups such as the Daltons, Redkits, Baris Boyun group, Anucurs, Camgozler, Gundogmuslar, and Atiz-Casper openly advertising criminal services with price lists. These gangs offer services ranging from workplace arson for ₺10,000 ($242), shooting up venues for ₺40,000 ($969), and murder for ₺300,000 ($7.274).
Minister Tunc did not discuss the issue of criminal gangs recruiting minors through social media platforms in this paragraph, nor did he provide specific details about the changes to be made in the new legislation. However, he did announce plans to expand child justice centers, which are crucial for children who are both victims and perpetrators of crime.
Uskudar University Faculty of Communication Dean Professor Gul Esra Atalay highlighted how digital technologies enable criminals to communicate anonymously on social media, independent of time and location. This underscores the need for stricter regulations and increased vigilance in the digital sphere.
As the issue of youth crime continues to escalate, with crime rates in Turkey approaching levels seen in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, the new legislation offers a glimmer of hope for a safer future for Turkey's youth.
Read also:
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
- Right-wing Israeli minister supports controversial plan for West Bank settlement expansion
