Turkish Parliament Approves 'Child in Conflict with the Law' Amendment: Detention Threshold for Under-18s Changed

The Turkish Grand National Assembly has approved it: The Child Protection Law bill containing new regulations on children in conflict with the law passed through Parliament. According to reports from Diken and Sözcü newspapers, the law redefines the conditions under which individuals under 18 will face imprisonment sentences.

The regulation prioritizes supervised release, rehabilitation, and protective measures in juvenile justice while broadening the scope of criminal liability in certain serious crime categories. Turkey's legislation on juvenile delinquency last underwent a major change in 2005 with the entry into force of the Child Protection Law No. 5395; that regulation had primarily adopted a restorative justice model.

The implementation details and how the sentencing threshold will be determined for different crime types will be clarified at the regulatory level. Civil society organizations working in the field of children's rights are evaluating the details of the law.