A still from CCTV footage shows the recent attack against a 14-year-old girl by a group of her peers in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada. [InTime News]
The recent brutal attack on a 14-year-old girl in Glyfada has prompted the Greek government to introduce stricter measures to address the escalating issue of teen violence. Proposed changes include lowering the age of criminal responsibility and imposing harsher penalties on juvenile offenders’ parents.
The new legislation would allow for detention of minors as young as 14, a departure from the current system that only offers counseling or community service for children aged 12 to 15. Additionally, parents of juvenile offenders may face fines starting at €5,000 and imprisonment of up to two years.
While some experts advocate for a nuanced approach towards youth crime, emphasizing collaboration between schools, communities, and authorities, others warn against increasing penalties, citing potential negative consequences. Effective long-term solutions, they argue, require fostering non-violence and empathy among young people.