As Özkök Law Firm, we are sensitive about the future and rights of children. In this article, we will make a detailed review of the protective measures applied to child criminals and their legal rights.
The Concept and Characteristics of Child Criminals
A child criminal is defined as a person under a certain age who commits a crime according to the TCK. These people should not be treated the same as adult criminals, and a special approach should be adopted considering their developmental characteristics and the differences in the reasons for committing crimes.
The Purpose of Protective Measures for Child Criminals
The main purpose of protective measures for child criminals is to rehabilitate children, reintegrate them into society and prevent them from committing crimes again. These measures are determined by taking into account the individual characteristics of the child, the nature of the crime and their social environment.
Protective Measures Applied to Child Criminals
Education and Rehabilitation Programs: Various education and rehabilitation programs are implemented to eliminate the child’s deficiencies, develop their social skills and eliminate the reasons for committing crimes.
Family Counseling: The aim is to work with the child’s family to solve problems within the family and to reintegrate the child into the family.
Social Services: Social services are provided to meet the child’s basic needs, strengthen their social environment and ensure that they adapt to society.
Placement: If it is not possible for the child to live in their own family, they are placed in a suitable family or institution.
Supervision: The aim is to prevent the child from committing crimes again by keeping them under surveillance for a certain period of time and monitoring their social environment.
Legal Rights of Child Offenders
Right to Defense: Child offenders, like adults, have the right to defense regarding accusations.
Right to be Defended by a Lawyer: Child offenders have the right to have themselves defended by a lawyer.
Arrest in Special Circumstances: Arrest of children is only possible in cases of necessity and with a judge’s decision in the shortest time possible.
Right to Privacy: The principle of confidentiality is observed in the investigation and prosecution processes regarding child offenders.
Respect for Human Rights: Like all individuals, the human rights of child offenders must be respected.
