Turkey Approves New Child Protection Laws, Revising Penalties for Minors and Gun Storage

Turkey's Grand National Assembly has passed the initial two articles of a legislative proposal aimed at reforming child protection and other laws. The approved measures include stricter penalties for individuals found negligent in storing firearms, which subsequently results in a child gaining access to the weapon. Those found guilty could face one to three years in prison, provided their actions do not constitute a more severe crime.

The legislation also significantly alters the criminal responsibility framework for minors. For children aged 12 to 15, criminal responsibility will be waived if they are deemed unable to comprehend the legal implications of their actions or if their behavioral control is underdeveloped. In such cases, child-specific security measures will be applied.

However, if a child in this age group is found to understand the legal consequences of their actions, penalties will be adjusted. For crimes carrying aggravated life imprisonment, sentences will range from 13 to 18 years, and for life imprisonment, 10 to 12 years. Other sentences will be halved. For those aged 15 to 18, aggravated life imprisonment carries a sentence of 19 to 27 years, and life imprisonment from 10 to 12 years. Other prison sentences will be reduced by one-third.

An amendment adopted by the General Assembly also allows judges discretion in applying the older age group's penalty regime to children aged 15 to 18 in severe cases, such as intentional homicide or aggravated injury. For the 12-15 age group, judges will have the discretion to apply the penalty regime of the older group. The third article, which proposed lowering the age exception for recidivism from 18 to 15, was removed from the bill following an adopted amendment.