✓ verbatim from the press ◦ composed from multiple sources
The Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the Chamber of Deputies resumed on Tuesday (9) the debate on the Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) that reduces the criminal age from 18 to 16 years. The analysis had been postponed by a request for review — additional time for matter analysis — and now returns to committee consideration. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A CCJ (Comissão de Constituição e Justiça) da Câmara dos Deputados retoma, nesta terça-feira (9), o debate da PEC (proposta de emenda à Constituição) sobre a redução da maioridade penal. A análise da proposta volta à análise do colegiado após um pedido de vista – mais tempo para analisar a pauta – adiar a votação do parecer."
The text is reported by deputy Coronel Assis (PL-MT), who issued a favorable opinion on the proposal presented in 2015. The PEC establishes criminal responsibility from age 16, with possibility of imprisonment at this age range, and also institutes mandatory voting for those over 16, changing minimum ages for candidacies: 16 years for councilor, 18 for deputy or mayor, 25 for governor and 30 for president. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O texto, relatado pelo deputado Coronel Assis (PL-MT), propõe a queda de 18 anos para 16 anos de idade para que o jovem passe a responder criminalmente, podendo inclusive ser preso a partir dessa faixa etária. Além disso, estabelece o voto obrigatório para os maiores de 16 anos, diminuindo também a idade mínima para concorrer a cargos eletivos (16 anos para vereador, 18 anos para deputado ou prefeito, 25 para governador e 30 anos para presidente)."
Deputy Talíria Petrone (PSOL-RJ) presented a separate vote against the proposal, citing data showing a drop from 23,938 incarcerated adolescents in 2016 to 11,266 in 2024, defending "the unequivocal superiority of the socio-educational model in relation to the failed adult prison system regarding individual recovery". ◦
Press quotes (1)
"A parlamentar citou livro jurídico sobre direitos humanos que apontou queda de 23.938 adolescentes internados, em 2016, para 11.266, em 2024... Na realidade, as evidências apontam para a inequívoca superioridade do modelo socioeducativo em relação ao falido sistema prisional adulto no que tange à recuperação dos indivíduos"
Government coalition deputies aligned with Planalto Palace criticize the proposal, arguing that reducing criminal age "will lead to increased incarceration in the country, but will not necessarily improve public security". The opposition seeks to use the issue as an electoral banner, supported by research indicating 90% popular approval of the measure. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Do lado do governo, congressistas alinhados ao Palácio do Planalto criticam a proposta e afirmam que reduzir a maioridade penal vai acarretar no aumento do encarceramento do país, mas não necessariamente irá melhorar a segurança pública."
If approved in CCJ, the PEC will go to a special committee and then to the Chamber plenary, where it will need 308 votes in two rounds. Subsequently, it will be processed in the Senate, requiring 49 favorable votes also in two votes. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Por se tratar de uma PEC, a matéria precisa de pelo menos 308 votos de deputados em duas votações. Na sequência, se aprovado, o texto segue para o Senado, onde também precisa passar por duas votações e receber 49 votos favoráveis."
The PEC was presented in 2015 and has been processing in CCJ since then
Real Time Big Data survey indicates 90% popular approval for criminal age reduction
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Opposition intends to use the issue as electoral banner to circumvent Flávio Bolsonaro's image damage
The rapporteur argues that the reduction does not conflict with UN international treaties
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What will be the composition of the special committee that will analyze the PEC's merit?
Why it's still unknown: The special committee has not yet been formed
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How many votes does the proposal have guaranteed in CCJ and in the Chamber plenary?
Why it's still unknown: No source presented a count of declared votes or realistic projection of approval
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What is the specific content of the two other appended PECs presented in 2024?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention only general description of proposals about heinous crimes and accountability from age 12
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Are there STF precedents on constitutionality of changes in criminal imputability age?
Why it's still unknown: Sources do not cite Supreme Court jurisprudence on the topic