Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Brazilian lawmakers resume debate on lowering criminal age to 16
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is holding hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday about lowering the age of criminal responsibility.
The main proposal would lower it from 18 to 16 under a constitutional amendment.
Under current law, people under 18 are not tried as adults and can face measures under Brazil’s Child and Adolescent Statute.
Other proposals would apply criminal responsibility to younger teenagers in certain serious cases, with one setting the threshold at 12 for specified violent or grave crimes.
Lawmakers disagree on how widely the change should apply: opposition members back a broad reduction, while government members favor limiting it to serious and violent crimes.
The committee’s rapporteur is considering separate facilities for teenagers who might face criminal sentences, away from adult prisoners.
There is no set date for a vote; the committee has not yet received the final report.
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is resuming debate on a proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16.
A special committee is holding public hearings on the proposal’s possible effects on public security, the justice system and policies for children and adolescents.
The proposal, Constitutional Amendment Proposal 32/2015, was originally presented by former deputy Gonzaga Patriota.
Opposition lawmakers support lowering the age to 16 for all crimes and, in some cases, to 14, while government members favour limiting the change to serious and violent crimes.
The committee has not set a final date for a vote, and its rapporteur is seeking agreement on the proposal’s scope.
- Who
- Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, including a special committee considering the proposal.
- What
- Lawmakers have resumed debate on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16.
- When
- The debate resumes Tuesday, November 10, 2026; hearings are scheduled for November 10 and 11.
- Where
- Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.
- Why
- The committee is considering the proposal’s possible effects on public security, the justice system and policies for children and adolescents.
Opposition lawmakers
Government members
Scope of change
Opposition lawmakers
Support lowering the age to 16 for all crimes and, in some cases, to 14.
Government members
Support limiting the change to serious and violent crimes.
The Chamber’s Constitution and Justice Committee approved the proposal.
A special committee was created to examine the proposal.
The special committee resumed debate and held a public hearing on possible effects on public security, criminal justice and crime-prevention policies.
A second public hearing was scheduled to discuss effects on the judiciary, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, fundamental guarantees and the socio-educational system.
- Proposal
- PEC 32/2015
- Current age of criminal responsibility
- 18
- Age proposed in original text
- 16
- First hearing
- November 10, 2026, at 14:30
- Second hearing
- November 11, 2026, at 14:30
- Rapporteur
- Deputy Mendonça Filho (PL-PE)