Controversy over the age of criminal responsibility and the decision to lower it took Buenos Aires province Daniel Scioli to say the debate “must not be distorted” considering the real discussion is about the Juvenile Criminal Regime that must guarantee minors’ access to due process and special treatment.
“Underlying debate is the Juveniele Criminal Regime, let’s not distort the discussion. There is a Supreme Court order in its García Méndez case ruling, urging the Congress to debate about this issue, making adolescents’ due process, guarantees and especial treatment to be observed”.
Following the proposal by Victory Front parliamentary candidate Martín Insaurralde to lower criminal age to 14 years old –and Senator Aníbal Fernández rejecting the project-, Scioli admitted there are different positions within kirchnerism over such sensitive issue.
Increasing focus on crime and the defeat in the PASO primaries, have pushed the government to put security on the campaign agenda. Daniel Scioli indeed announced the division of the Security and Justice Ministry and the creation of two separate offices in Buenos Aires province last week explaining the move followed “changes in crime characterists” and the need to “re-adjuts logistical, human and budget resources” to meet citizens’ security demands.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald