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Argentina Pushes Juvenile Justice Bill as Catholic Church Calls for Broader Response

Debate now centers on a rights‑bound draft that forbids life sentences and preserves a distinct juvenile regime.

Overview

  • The Milei administration placed a new juvenile penal regime on the February extraordinary‑sessions agenda and is negotiating votes to advance it in Congress.
  • Key terms remain unsettled, with government allies signaling a likely floor of 14 years for criminal liability after an initial push for 13.
  • The Episcopal Conference issued an official communiqué urging prevention, education and community support, warning against a debate focused mainly on punishment.
  • Draft provisions exclude life imprisonment, cap sentences for the gravest crimes at up to 15 years, create specialized juvenile facilities and prioritize alternatives to detention for lesser offenses.
  • Provincial leaders and juvenile‑justice experts raised practical and fiscal concerns over capacity to build and staff dedicated institutes, as the Monzón homicide keeps public pressure high.