As Özkök Law Firm, we have compiled for you the legal processes and defense strategies frequently encountered in criminal cases of child criminals.
Children committing crimes is one of the most sensitive issues in society. This situation has important consequences for both the future of the child and the security of society. Therefore, it is of great importance that the legal processes applied in criminal cases of child criminals are carried out correctly and fairly.
The Concept and Legal Status of Child Criminals
Who is a Child Criminal?


According to the Turkish Penal Code, every person who has not reached the age of 18 is considered a child. Therefore, if a person under the age of 18 commits a crime, he/she is considered a child criminal.
Legal Status of Child Criminals
The criminal liability of child criminals differs from adults. Considering the developmental processes, social environments and psychological characteristics of children, rehabilitation and rehabilitation are taken as the basis instead of punishment.
Defense Strategies in Child Criminals
Defense strategies in criminal cases of child criminals are shaped according to the child’s age, the nature of the crime, social environment and psychological state. In general, the following defense strategies can be applied:
• Investigating the Causes of the Crime: Detailed investigation of the factors that caused the child to commit the crime (domestic violence, substance addiction, circle of friends, etc.) and presenting these factors to the court.
• Emphasizing the Child’s Developmental Characteristics: Making a defense that the child may have exhibited behaviors that are inappropriate for his/her age, but that this is part of the developmental process and that the crime will not be continuous.
• Psychological Reports: Presenting reports that reveal the child’s psychological state to the court. These reports can provide a better understanding of the child’s reasons for committing the crime and the issuance of an appropriate penalty or precautionary measure.
• Social Environment Reports: Presenting reports that show the status of the child’s social environment to the court. These reports can provide a better understanding of the reasons why the child was dragged into crime and the appropriate measures to be taken for the child’s future.
• Alternative Penalties and Measures: Requesting alternative penalties and measures such as education, rehabilitation and social services instead of keeping the child in prison.