Suspicion of murder against 14-year-olds: too mild punishment ensures outrage!

Suspicion of murder against 14-year-olds: too mild punishment ensures outrage!

Berikon, Schweiz - In Switzerland, the murder case caused a 14-year-old girl to cause a stir, who re-sparked the debate about juvenile criminal law. Emma is suspected of having murdered her 15-year-old friend Sophie in Berikon on May 11th. The results of the investigation ask the question of the appropriateness of the punishments for young people in Switzerland, where juvenile law is considered strict compared to other countries. According to 24heures.ch , Emma could get by only three days of a non-profit work, which at Sophie's mother has met with massive criticism. It perceives the possible punishment as too mild and expresses incomprehension over the Swiss judicial system.

Another important aspect is the possible compensation that Emma's parents would have to do for intangible damage. These amounts can be up to CHF 10,000. The case not only raises questions about justice, but also illuminates the future handling of youth crime in Switzerland. Experts such as Patrik Killer, the President of the Swiss Society for Youth Criminal Law, argue that severe punishments have no significant deterrent effect on young people.

The legal framework for young people

The National Council is currently planning a reform of youth criminal law that aims to introduce prison terms for minors in the event of serious crimes. rs.ch stands out in 2022 in Switzerland six desserts of minors and about 30 attempts at murder were registered. As part of a graded internment measure, dangerous young people should be locked up longer than currently being served. Critics of the measure, including some parliamentary representatives, fear high costs and doubts about the effectiveness of the internment. Jonathan Rutschmann, an expert in criminal law, also warns of the long -term consequences that can have such a approach to the adolescents concerned.

Swiss lawyers emphasize the educational approach of juvenile justice, which focuses on protection instead of punishment. This is no coincidence, because many young people are in a development process that is often shaped by mental disorders between 15 and 25 years. Sandrine Haymoz, professor of criminology, explains that serious behavioral problems are often already recognizable in childhood. At the same time, there was an increase in youth violence in the canton of Zurich, which was almost 12.8 percent in 2022, according to zh.ch . The numbers show that you are dealing with a complex topic that raises far -reaching social questions.

social responsibility

But how does society see the increasing youth crime? The current development could worry. The accelerated increase in violent crimes among young people demands a rethink, not only in the legal system, but also in social perception. Experts from different disciplines agree that a comprehensive reflection on the causes of youth crime is essential in order to find sustainable effective solutions.

The EMMA case will not only be discussed intensively in Switzerland. Rather, this is a sign that the topic of youth crime, which has many facets, moves people and demands measures that maintain the feeling of security in society while at the same time the individual development of young people is preserved.