Justice Minister in favor of tightening juvenile criminal law

Saxony's Minister of Justice Constanze Geiert (CDU) believes that stricter juvenile criminal law is necessary in view of increasing violent crime. During a debate in the state parliament, she called for a reform. There can be no two opinions about the need to act. "The situation is serious," said the minister. There are more and more criminal biographies at a young age and cases in which youth work can no longer remedy anything.

Minister questions age limit of criminal responsibility

According to Geiert, Saxony supports a proposal from Bavaria to also hold children of criminal responsibility to account. Currently, girls and boys under the age of 14 cannot be prosecuted under criminal law. The minister also wants to tighten the criminal law for 18 to 21-year-olds, who are often still prosecuted under the milder juvenile criminal law. In future, adult criminal law is to be the rule and juvenile criminal law will only apply in a few exceptions.

CDU receives opposition from BSW, SPD, Greens and Left

In a debate, only representatives of the CDU and AfD spoke out in favor of tougher juvenile criminal law. This met with rejection from all other parliamentary groups, who rejected lowering the age of criminal responsibility for children and placing them in locked detention. BSW politician Ines Biebrach said that the topic reminded her of someone who prefers to take painkillers when they have a toothache instead of going to the dentist to have the root of the problem treated.