Social and Legal Studios
ISSN 2617-4162
e-ISSN 2617-4170
Publisher: Lviv State University of Internal Affairs
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the specifics of Albaniaʼs legislative approach to minors in conflict with the law in comparison with other countries to identify unique and common features. For this, the study examined and compared the general provisions of the Albanian legislation on minors in conflict with the law with the legislation of Italy, France, Germany, and the United States. It was found that Albania, like many European countries, seeks to preserve a humanistic approach to the juvenile justice system, focusing on social rehabilitation and avoidance of imprisonment wherever possible. However, in contrast to the developed juvenile justice systems in France, Germany, and Italy, the Albanian system is still undergoing reform and improvement to meet EU standards. Compared to the United States, where juvenile criminal justice is often more severe, European approaches, including Albaniaʼs, favour rehabilitation and probationary measures. The age of criminal responsibility varies substantially across the countries under study. In Albania, it is close to the age thresholds in France, Germany, and Italy. In the United States, the approach to the age of responsibility varies from state to state. In Albania, as in other European countries, special procedures have been developed for the trial of cases involving minors. Germany and France have detailed regulations on the operation of juvenile courts. In the United States, by contrast, not all states have separate juvenile courts, while minors can be tried in adult courts for especially grave crimes. In European countries (France, Germany, Italy) and partly in Albania, legislation stipulates the active involvement of the family and community in the rehabilitation process. In the United States, family and community involvement is less structured at the legislative level, which can complicate the rehabilitation process
Keywords: criminal legislation; child rights; justice system; juvenile justice; childrenʼs rights protection; court processes
Suggested citation
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