Romania is debating lowering the criminal responsibility age to ten years in the wake of a serious crime in Timiș, following a petition signed by more than 250,000 citizens. The proposal, dubbed "Legea Mario", has sparked a debate among experts. Criminologist Vlad Zaha warns that reducing the age could create a dual standard of discernment, potentially leading to legal complications and labeling children as offenders. Psychiatrist Gabriel Diaconu stresses the importance of focusing on violence prevention in schools and child‑supervision institutions instead of punitive measures. The Justice Ministry will form a working group to examine various options for amending the Penal Code.
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