New impetus from the ÖVP ministries against youth crime. There they want to reduce the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes to twelve years and also make parents more responsible – the results will be presented to a working group that supports this.
A first attempt at a similar legislative change in the National Council had already failed at the end of March. The FPÖ already wanted to reduce criminal liability, but the People’s Party had spoken out against a quick shot and wanted a discussion with experts first.
Expert report requested
A first interim report from the committee of experts (“Youth Crime Working Group”) is now available. That is why a package of measures is proposed. The most spectacular, according to reports, is the reduction of the limit for prison sentences or criminal liability to twelve years if capital crimes have been committed.
In addition, there must be police instructions – also for children under the age of twelve – whereby children must be present with their parents. Failure to comply can lead to administrative fines of up to 4,600 euros.
Details of the current plan will be announced on Friday afternoon during a press conference, with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Constitutional Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler (both ÖVP) providing information.
Violence against and by young people
The background to the debate is several cases of violence against children where the alleged perpetrators were themselves minors. A twelve-year-old girl who was the victim of a gang rape in Vienna is burned into the memories of many ‘Krone’ readers. There were seventeen suspects at the time.
The number of suspects between the ages of ten and fourteen has almost doubled in the past ten years. In 2013 there were 4,821 suspects, in 2023 there were already 9,729.
Many dissenting voices
It will now be interesting to see the working group’s arguments on the topic of criminal liability. After the first considerations of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), numerous experts had already spoken out against a reduction – such as the Criminal Policy Network, which also includes the Association of Judges, the Austrian Bar Association, the Association of Austrian Criminal Lawyers, the Probation Association Neustart and White Ring Assistance for Crime Victims. The legislation’s accusations were loud.
OGH President Georg Kodek explained: Prison is “not a panacea.” Green Justice Minister Alma Zadić also spoke out against such a change. The SPÖ is also against it.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
