Hungary Labelled children: Confrontation instead of sanctions

March 9, 2011

Comment: The article was published in a County newspaper about the technique of mediation used in criminal cases – especially when juveniles are the perpetrators. Currently Hungarian Parliament is discussing plans to lower prosecution age to 14 or lower. The article argues that professionals oppose these plans and point out that policy should support prevention and child protection rather than prosecution of children. Also there are absolutely no data available that would prove that stricter prosecution decreases crime among juveniles.

The criminal mediator of the Heves County State Justice Services argues that mediation can help children – whose personality is not fully developed yet – to acknowledge the consequences of their actions. It helps the development of children as well as the victims to come to terms with what happened. It also avoids needless criminalization of children.

The article promotes mediation – as an effective process for juvenile justice – and argues – correctly – that criminalization of children labels them for life rather than confronting them with their actions and helping them develop. It also points out that current policy is going in the wrong direction and that child protection and prevention measures should be strengthened rather than prosecution.

*Comments: Judit Almasi Regional Office for Central and South Eastern Europe