While South Korea remains embroiled in a heated debate over lowering the age of "criminal minors" (Chokbeop-sonyeon), El Salvador has taken a drastic step by enacting a law that allows for life imprisonment of children as young as 12.
On April 15, President Nayib Bukele signed a constitutional amendment enabling the judiciary to sentence minors aged 12 and older to life in prison for heinous crimes such as murder, terrorism, and rape. The law is set to take effect on April 26, 2026.
Abolishing Leniency for Young Offenders
The new legislation effectively abolishes the special legal procedures previously reserved for offenders aged 12 to 18. Previously, the maximum sentence in El Salvador was 60 years, with significantly lighter sentences for juveniles.
President Bukele defended the move, stating that "past legal systems provided impunity for young criminals." To ensure the effective implementation of this law, the government plans to establish specialized criminal courts to handle juvenile cases.
The Harsh Reality of Salvadoran Prisons
The severity of this law is magnified by El Salvador’s notorious prison conditions. Reports from international media outlets, including the BBC and CNN, describe a grim environment where 100 inmates are packed into 100-square-meter cells.
Inmates are forced to shave their heads, wear only white boxers, and remain confined for 23.5 hours a day. Movement within the facility is strictly controlled, requiring inmates to run with their heads bowed and hands behind their heads. Human rights organizations estimate that at least 500 individuals have died under state custody since the crackdown began.
Human Rights Concerns vs. Public Safety
The UN Human Rights Office has criticized the amendment, arguing it violates children's fundamental rights. However, Bukele remains undeterred. Since declaring a state of emergency in 2022, his administration has arrested over 91,000 suspects without warrants, a policy that has garnered significant domestic support despite international outcry.
As South Korea continues to grapple with rising juvenile crime rates and the limitations of its own protective measures for minors under 14, El Salvador’s "zero-tolerance" approach serves as a controversial benchmark in the global discourse on juvenile justice.
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