Argentine lower house approves bill reducing age of criminal responsibility to 14
Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14, marking a significant shift in the country’s juvenile justice framework. The proposal, backed by President Javier Milei, passed with 149 votes in favor and 100 against and will now move to the Senate for further debate.
If enacted, the reform would amend legislation in place since 1980. Argentina currently has one of the highest minimum ages of criminal responsibility in South America. In many neighboring countries the threshold stands at 14, while it is lower in others, including Brazil and Ecuador.
Political divide over reform
The debate intensified following several high-profile violent crimes involving minors, including a December incident in the province of Santa Fe Province in which teenagers were accused of killing another adolescent. Supporters of the bill argue that serious crimes committed by young offenders require legal consequences aligned with the gravity of the acts.
Lawmakers aligned with the government promoted the reform under the slogan “adult crime, adult sentence,” a phrase widely associated with Security Minister Patricia Bullrich. Proponents contend that teenagers as young as 14 are capable of understanding the consequences of violent actions and should therefore be held accountable under criminal law.
Deputy Ramiro Gutiérrez, speaking in support of the measure, argued during the session that criminal acts committed at 14 demonstrate awareness and intent, and therefore should not go without judicial response.
Concerns from the opposition
Opposition lawmakers strongly criticized the initiative, accusing the ruling coalition of rushing the legislation. Peronist deputy Victoria Tolosa Paz argued that incarceration should remain an exceptional measure and warned against using prison as a response to broader social and economic vulnerabilities affecting young people.
Critics also raised concerns about whether detention facilities are adequately prepared for younger inmates and questioned the sufficiency of the allocated budget to implement the reform effectively.
Under Argentine law, children below the minimum age of criminal responsibility cannot be prosecuted in criminal courts. The proposed change would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to face criminal proceedings under specific conditions, subject to further legislative approval in the Senate.
The measure highlights a broader regional debate over juvenile justice, public security and the balance between accountability and rehabilitation in addressing youth crime.
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