Urgent reform: A new juvenile justice law changes the system in Bulgaria

Radical changes in juvenile justice

Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov and Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva announced the start of work on an entirely new law for juvenile justice. The initiative aims to replace the outdated Law on Combating Anti-Social Behavior of Minors and Juveniles with a modern regulatory framework that meets contemporary standards.

The focus of the reform is on early prevention, individual assessment of each child's needs, and effective inter-institutional cooperation.

Main pillars of the concept:

• Early intervention: Working with children at risk at the first signs, in order to prevent them from entering the criminal justice system.
• Specialized justice: The introduction of specialized judicial panels for children and early legal aid is being discussed.
• End of closed-type institutions: Replacing old boarding schools with modern social services within the community.
• Integrated approach: Joint work between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the non-governmental sector.

The goal is for the system to provide not only punishment but also real social reintegration, while guaranteeing the rights of the child and providing appropriate psychological and emotional support.