Features of criminal liability and punishment of juveniles: reality and perspectiv

Abstract

In the article the author analyses the features of criminal liability and punishment of juveniles in the current criminal legislation. Particular attention is paid to the release of adolescents from punishment and serving sentences. The author points out that for a long time there have been discussions among scholars about the possibility and expediency of applying to adolescents release from punishment and serving sentences considering the obvious need for their urgent re-education and return to the law-abiding citizens. The author categorically looks positively at this subinstitution of criminal legislation and believes that in some way it allows criminal legislation to perform its protective, educational and preventive functions. It also notes that the list of currently available types of release for both adults and juveniles is quite limited, which does not allow to fully differentiate them according to the specifics of the criminal offense committed by each individual juvenile. A comparative analysis of the current criminal legislation with the draft of the new Criminal Code of Ukraine is carried out. It is stated that scientists have identified not only juveniles but also young people, which is also due to the European vision of the subject of the criminal offense. Most criminal legislations of the Member States of the European Union have a similar differentiation. It is concluded that despite the rapid development of criminal legislation and Ukraine itself, the legislative vision of the limits of criminal responsibility and punishment of juveniles remains almost unchanged. A study of the draft of the new Criminal Code of Ukraine showed that only the age of the subject of the criminal offense was revised, as well as certain features of punishment and release from it. At the same time, any fundamentally new alternative criminal-legal measures and means of interaction with juvenile offenders are not provided, which indicates that the juvenile criminal legislation of Ukraine is not yet fully compliant with European and international standards of justice according to juveniles who are in conflict with the law. Key words: juvenile, criminal liability, punishment, release from punishment and serving sentences, draft, new Criminal Code, European Union.