Forum Justice in Tyrol

Unteachable, but too young for punishment: what to do?

The Justice Forum in Innsbruck discussed reducing the age of criminal responsibility to under 14. This is already a reality in Switzerland. Could the Swiss be a role model?

Constantly stealing in stores, stealing a classmate's cell phone, threatening to use a knife in the playground - anyone who commits such offenses as a 12 or 13-year-old is generally not liable to prosecution in Austria. Switzerland takes a different approach here: certain sanctions can be imposed from the age of ten.