Le misure di contrasto alla criminalità minorile, tra presupposti della responsabilità e problemi della (ri)educazione

Given the incidence and visibility of violent behaviors perpetrated by underage adolescents and young adults, the preconditions and limits of criminal liability of minors offenders are currently under special scrutiny. The legislative reforms implemented under the so-called Caivano decree and subsequent Law No. 159 of 13 November 2023 introduced rules and regulations that expanded the scope of application of criminal law and also resulted in adjustments in the criminal proceedings and their outcomes, bringing young offenders closer to the sphere of control exercised by criminal institutions and of imprisonment. In the complex scenario of juvenile delinquency, criminal law does have a role to play, yet with a systematic approach in which different forms of intervention should coexist and interact.