Separate penal system for juveniles and adults
Published: Wednesday, Sep 4th 2024, 11:00
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Custodial sentences under the Juvenile Penal Code and those under adult criminal law are to be enforced separately rather than together. Following the consultation process, the Federal Council amended the ordinance and brought it into force on July 1, 2025.
The Federal Council announced on Wednesday that a majority agreed in principle with the draft during the consultation process. However, the federal government made selective amendments to the Ordinance to the Criminal Code and the Military Criminal Code. In future, a person who has committed an offense before and after the age of 18 will be judged in separate proceedings.
This means that it is possible for a person to be sentenced to a prison term under the Juvenile Penal Code and one under the Criminal Code at the same time. If this is the case, the sentences should be carried out separately.
As the Federal Council wrote, this is because different provisions apply to the two forms of deprivation of liberty. In juvenile criminal law in particular, the focus is on the protection and education of minors. The amended ordinance will enter into force on July 1, 2025. This will give the cantons enough time to make the necessary adjustments, the government wrote.
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