Are juvenile participants in criminal proceedings entitled to testify incriminatingly?

Abstract

The problematic issue for theory and practice of the possibility of applying norms of the pre-trial agreement institute on cooperation to juvenile suspects and defendants is studied. The relevance of issue is due to the fact that the specified legal institution is successfully used in the practice of combating group crime, and for juveniles it is the group way of committing crimes that is typical. The legal position of the Plenum of Supreme Court on the issue under study is analyzed, its shortcomings are noted. The refusal to conclude a cooperation agreement with a juvenile in order to exclude a threat to the personal safety of a teenager from the exposed persons is subjected to critical analysis. In our opinion, in order to achieve this goal, another measure would be necessary – a ban on juvenile defendants to expose other persons of involvement in the commission of crimes. Taking into account the fact that the law obliges juveniles who have the procedural status of a victim or witness to give truthful testimony of a revealing nature, it is concluded that the right to give similar testimony to a minor suspect, accused should not be denied. The conclusion of a preliminary cooperation agreement in the interests of the accused himself and the whole society.