Support for Reducing Age of Criminal Responsibility to 16 in Serious Crimes Grows in Brazil

01/04/2018 - 11h57

A new Datafolha survey shows that the support for the project that aims to reduce the age of criminal responsibility in Brazil from 18 to 16 only in the cases of serious crimes, such as homicide, increased from 26% in 2015 to 36% in 2017.

Brazilians' support is still massive (84%) for the project of lowering the age in which a citizen can be held responsible for a crime. However, this number rose from 26% in 2015 to 36% of those who accept the measure in the cases of serious crimes.

The option for the selective reduction is called for in the proposal for a constitutional amendment currently in the Brazilian congress - however, proceedings have not progressed since March 2017.

Technically congressmen could vote it this year; however, it is very unlikely to occur as the country is beginning an electoral period. Even with the people's support, congressmen often avoid controversial projects while they are campaigning.

There are differences according to the ideological bias of those interviewed. Voters of candidates Jair Bolsonaro (95%) and Geraldo Alckmin (91%) tend to agree with the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility, while the project has less support among voters of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (79%).

Fabio Bueno, a prosecutor of the Juvenile Division Court, says the survey "reflects the people's feeling of insecurity."

Datafolha interviewed 2,765 people in 192 cities in the country on November 29 and 30, 2017. The survey has a two-percent margin of error.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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	Marlene Bergamo - 14.abr.2015/Folhapress
	Inmates at Fundação Casa, a youth detention center, in São Paulo