Datafolha: 70% of Brazilians Favor Punishing Teen Offenders Like Adults

Overview

• The Datafolha ideological survey found 70% of respondents support treating adolescents who commit crimes as adults, up from 65% in 2022, while support for reeducation fell to 27%.
• The poll was conducted with 2,004 voters in 139 municipalities on June 17–18, 2026 and is registered at the TSE under BR-09956/2026 with a ±2 percentage-point margin of error.
• Support for adult-style punishment is higher among evangelicals (75%) and Catholics (72%) and varies by presidential preference, reaching 81% among Flávio Bolsonaro voters versus 61% among Lula voters.
• A separate finding shows 85% of Brazilians oppose legalizing drug use, a level that has remained essentially unchanged since 2022 within the survey's margin of error.
• The result comes as a maioridade penal bill cleared the Chamber's Constitution and Justice Committee and awaits formation of committee membership for merit debate, making legislative change a live possibility that could affect policing, juvenile services, and campaign messaging.