The Senate of Argentina approved this Friday (27) a bill that lowers the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14 years. The text, which had already passed the Chamber of Deputies, now goes to the president Javier Milei for signature.
The new legislation establishes that teenagers starting at 14 may be held criminally responsible, but it determines that detention must occur in facilities separate from those designated for adults.
According to the government, confinement in closed regimes will be restricted to crimes considered serious, such as homicide and offenses with a high degree of violence.
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Amid the debate, Milei’s party, Freedom Advances, intensified the campaign in defense of the change, arguing that the hardening of rules is essential to reduce crime.
Opposition sectors criticized the text and demanded details about the financing of the new structure needed to house and monitor adolescents in conflict with the law. Although the government announced the release of resources, lawmakers say the amount is not enough to implement the promised model across the country.
