Juvenile delinquency addressed in all its dimensions

The “Rethinking Juvenile Delinquency Panel” was held at Üsküdar University’s Çarşı Campus.

Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör: “If a person chooses evil, there is a problem in the way they were raised as a human being.”

Istanbul Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Ömer Turan: “There has been a serious increase in juvenile crimes originating from the digital world.”

Judge of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice Ümit Babayiğit: “In my opinion, for ages 12, 15, 18 and even 25, penalties should be structured primarily around rehabilitation and probation.”

Juvenile Court Judge Gülşah Eğilmez Türüdi: “We issue protective measures, but we do not have a mechanism to continuously monitor the process.”

Prof. Gökhan Oral, Faculty Member at Istanbul Cerrahpaşa University: “A child is not a reduced version of an adult. The justice system must be separate accordingly. The idea of giving a child half the penalty given to an adult is not correct.”

Istanbul Provincial Police Juvenile Division Director Özlem Temur: “We must evaluate children involved in crime not only by their chronological age but also through their mental, cognitive, psychological and social development in a multidimensional way.”

Istanbul Probation Director Murat Kalkan: “Probation is a comprehensive system that simultaneously includes both restriction and rehabilitation.”

The issue of children driven to crime was discussed at Üsküdar University by legal professionals, academics and practitioners.

The panel, moderated by Prof. İsmail Barış, Head of the Social Work Department at Üsküdar University and Director of KÜGEMER, featured Istanbul Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Ömer Turan, Istanbul Regional Court of Justice Judge Ümit Babayiğit, Istanbul Courthouse Juvenile Court Judge Gülşah Eğilmez Türüdi, Prof. Gökhan Oral from Istanbul Cerrahpaşa University, Istanbul Provincial Police Juvenile Division Director Özlem Temur and Istanbul Probation Director Murat Kalkan as speakers.

Organized in cooperation with Üsküdar University’s Center for Globalization and Youth Studies Application and Research Center and the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the “Rethinking Juvenile Delinquency Panel” was held at Üsküdar University’s Çarşı Campus. Under the subtitle “An Interinstitutional Perspective on Protection, Justice and Rehabilitation,” the panel addressed legal regulations concerning children driven to crime, social service practices, law enforcement and judicial processes, and academic approaches in a multidimensional manner by experts in their fields.

Prof. Güngör: “A child is pure at birth”

In her opening speech, Rector of Üsküdar University Prof. Nazife Güngör emphasized that a child is born inherently good, stating, “A child is pure at birth. They are a bright human being, far from evil. But the family they are born into, the social conditions in which they grow up, the education they receive and the environment they are exposed to transform them.”

“A person is either good or evil; there is no other option”

Pointing out that crime is not merely an individual issue but a structural one, Prof. Güngör stated that individuals who commit crimes should be viewed not only with anger but also through a cause-and-effect perspective. She said, “We need to look at the life stories of those who commit violence against children on the street, those who commit violence against women and those who become involved in mafia structures. Most of the time, I feel more sorrow than anger.”

Emphasizing that humans are inherently good, Prof. Güngör stated that evil is a learned behavior, saying, “If a person chooses evil, there is a problem in the way they were raised as a human being. A person is either good or evil; there is no other option. This choice is shaped by the values instilled in childhood. If we are equipped with goodness, we choose goodness; if we are equipped with evil, we choose evil. One of the greatest crises humanity faces today stems from this.”

Concluding her speech with an emphasis on hope, Prof. Nazife Güngör said, “If we save one child, we save humanity. Children deserve a safer and more humane world. Mistakes have been made, but it is always beneficial to turn back from them. Creating awareness and rebuilding consciousness is the responsibility of us all.”

Provincial Director Ömer Turan: “The family has now become a policy model in Türkiye”

Speaking at the panel moderated by Prof. İsmail Barış, Istanbul Provincial Director of Family and Social Services Ömer Turan delivered a speech titled “Social Service Practices for Children Driven to Crime within the Scope of Child Services.” He stated that significant transformation has taken place in child services since the 2010s, saying, “Our legislation, our perspective and the reasons cases emerge have changed. Unfortunately, however, the types of incidents have diversified and increased. This process must be addressed together with all disciplines.”

Emphasizing that family focused policies have come to the forefront, Turan stated, “The year 2025 was designated as the Year of the Family. The next ten years will also be shaped within the framework of family and population policies. The family has now become a policy model in Türkiye.”

Responding to a question about social media regulations, Turan said, “This issue is not about prohibition but about more cautious use. There has been a serious increase in juvenile crimes originating from the digital world. When not used in a controlled manner, social media poses risks for all age groups.”

Judge Ümit Babayiğit: “Crime is an unjust act, but not every unjust act is a crime”

Istanbul Regional Court of Justice Judge Ümit Babayiğit began his speech titled “Crime, Punishment and the Child” by defining the concept of crime. Emphasizing that crime is not merely an unjust act, he stated:

“Crime is an unjust act, but not every unjust act is a crime. For an act to be considered a crime, its primary victim must be the public and it must be defined as a crime by law. At the core of crime lies freedom. Freedom brings with it the right to choose. When wrong or bad choices harm society and the individual, crime emerges. For this reason, crime is to some extent inevitable.”

Babayiğit emphasized that punishment should not be viewed solely in terms of deterrence but should be approached as a rehabilitation process that enables the offender to confront the consequences of their actions.

“Not all children are the same”

Addressing the legal definition of a child, Babayiğit stated, “The definitions in Turkish law are clear. Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child. That means there is nearly a one third difference in sentencing between someone who is 17 years and 364 days old and someone who is 18 years and 1 day old. Not all children are the same. We call a one year old a child, and we also call someone one day short of 18 a child. Therefore, we need to classify them. While classifying, we somewhat arbitrarily set the limits at 12, 15 and 18. Children under the age of 12 have no criminal responsibility. For those between 12 and 15, criminal capacity is partially recognized.”

“While the upper age limit should be reconsidered, we are discussing lowering it below 18”

Babayiğit pointed out that discussions regarding the 15 to 18 age group have increased in recent years and emphasized that current scientific data shows adolescence extending to the age of 25. He stated, “The literature tells us that human psychology, personality traits and hormonal balance do not fully settle until around the age of 25. Perhaps we should be discussing raising the upper age limit for criminal responsibility, yet we are debating lowering it below 18.”

He also noted that judicial contact causes serious secondary harm for both victims and children driven to crime, stating, “Contact with the judiciary causes secondary harm for children. Giving testimony, appearing before a judge and going through judicial processes create trauma that is very difficult to reverse. For this reason, as juvenile judges and prosecutors, we sometimes need to step back and make room for social services.”

Babayiğit added, “My personal opinion is that for ages 12, 15, 18 and even 25, penalties should primarily emphasize rehabilitation and probation, and these should be implemented effectively.”

Judge Gülşah Eğilmez Türüdi: “In general, we find social investigation reports sufficient”

Istanbul Courthouse Juvenile Court Judge Gülşah Eğilmez Türüdi, in her speech titled “The Practical Reflections of Protective and Supportive Measures, Problems and the Search for Solutions,” stated that deficiencies encountered in social investigation reports often prevent protective measures from achieving their intended purpose. She said, “In general, we find social investigation reports sufficient. However, in cases initiated by complaint or involving domestic violence and abuse, we see that reports are often limited to the family’s statements. In such cases, we expect investigations to also draw from supportive sources such as schools, law enforcement, the surrounding community and neighbors. Otherwise, reports remain limited and the decisions we issue fail to achieve their purpose.”

“We do not have a mechanism to continuously monitor the process”

Türüdi emphasized that there is a serious gap in monitoring protective measures, stating, “We issue protective measures, but we do not have a mechanism to continuously monitor the process.”

She pointed out that the lack of interinstitutional coordination has a wearing effect on children, saying, “Many institutions work on the same child with different responsibilities, but there is no mechanism that coordinates this process holistically. This causes children to move back and forth between institutions and suffer further harm. We propose that coordination be ensured under a single supervisory authority.”

Türüdi also stated that one of the most critical problems is the lack of a deterrent sanction mechanism for families who fail to comply with protective measures. “Despite protective decisions, we see that a significant number of families do not comply. Social investigation reports must be more comprehensive and research based. Protective measures should be monitored through interim hearings. A holistic interinstitutional follow up model should be established. Families must be actively involved in the process, and gradual sanction mechanisms should be implemented for those who fail to comply,” she said.

Prof. Gökhan Oral: “For those under 12, the moral element of crime does not form”

Prof. Gökhan Oral from Istanbul Cerrahpaşa University, in his speech titled “Where Does the Path to Crime Begin? Risk Factors and Restorative Approaches,” stated that the concepts of child, crime and justice have mostly been addressed from an adult centered perspective until now. He said, “My first observation is this: the words ‘child’ and ‘crime’ cannot be placed side by side at a certain age. For those under 12, the moral element of crime does not form. There is no crime there. The real debate begins between the ages of 12 and 18. The age of 18 has no medical or psychiatric equivalent. I wish it were 25. At least that would be more compatible with biological and psychological development.”

Prof. Oral added, “I prefer to use the expression ‘a child in conflict with the law’ instead of ‘juvenile delinquency.’ A child is not a reduced version of an adult. A child is a different being. That is why we have pediatrics, child psychiatry and pedagogy. The justice system should also be separate accordingly. The idea of giving a child half the penalty given to an adult is not correct.”

Juvenile delinquency has evolved from “simple theft” to “organized and qualified crimes”

Istanbul Provincial Police Juvenile Division Director Özlem Temur drew attention to the striking changes in the profile of children driven to crime in recent years and to efforts addressing the increasingly digital nature of crime. As a police director with a background in Guidance and Psychological Counseling and 20 years of field experience, Temur emphasized that juvenile delinquency has evolved from “simple theft” to “organized and qualified crimes.”

Stating that the nature of juvenile delinquency has changed, Temur said, “Especially since 2023, our children have unfortunately begun to be involved in qualified crimes. These include a child killing another child or an adult, organized crime and drug related offenses. We are now encountering a group of children who no longer feel shame but turn their crimes into a form of prestige and withdraw from communication.”

In missing child cases, the “24 hour rule” is a misconception, “Report immediately”

Correcting a common misconception in public discourse, Temur stated, “We often see in the media the claim that ‘you cannot report to the police before 24 hours have passed.’ This is a rumor that keeps circulating. Anyone can report as soon as they learn that a child is missing. We want to reach that child before they become involved in a crime or suffer serious victimization. Reporting without losing time is of vital importance for us.”

Incidents where a child kills another child

Referring to cases where a child kills another child, Temur said, “We see both the victim and the suspect at the same time. Both are children, often peers or with only a one or two year age difference. In such cases, the family of the victim naturally demands justice, saying, ‘Let the harshest possible penalty be imposed because my heart has been burned. My child was also a child, had dreams, and those were taken away.’ On the other hand, the suspect is also a child. At this point, we face a very difficult balance. Which doors will be opened and what kind of roadmap will be followed is extremely critical. Our hope is that a healthy and holistic roadmap will be drawn in this matter and that it will yield beneficial outcomes for our country.”

Mobile School Teams (MOT) in Istanbul

Speaking about security models implemented in Istanbul that have no equivalent elsewhere in Türkiye, Temur said, “We have a Mobile School Teams (MOT) system, which is unique in Türkiye. Our three member teams consisting of child, traffic and public order police officers are assigned exclusively to school surroundings. Parks, abandoned buildings, internet cafés and alcohol retailers around schools are continuously monitored. We have a direct WhatsApp communication network with school principals. In case of any problem, we are just one phone call away without having to wait for 112.”

Working directly in the field with children driven to crime and child victims, Özlem Temur stated, “We are dealing with what can be described as society’s bleeding wounds. Especially the age of 15 has become a frightening threshold both for society and for those of us working in the field. The question ‘How should we truly define these children as children?’ has now become a very serious topic of debate.”

The penal execution system and related legislation should be reconsidered

Temur noted that in fieldwork they encounter deep remorse in some children, saying, “When you look at the conditions they were born into, you see that many factors have pushed them to this point. These children often feel embarrassment and become open to any support and assistance you want to offer. However, there is another side to the picture. We are talking about a group, especially between the ages of 15 and 18, and now even as young as 14. Some children in this group are becoming involved in increasingly serious crimes. We are talking about children who know how to use firearms, who can shoot accurately, who can kill with a knife. Yes, they may not have completed their physical development, but they may still possess the physical strength or skill to kill an adult. In the end, they can cause the death of a person. For this very reason, we must evaluate these children not only by their chronological age but also through a multidimensional assessment of their intellectual, mental, psychological and social development. We believe that the penal execution system and the relevant legislation should be reconsidered.”

Murat Kalkan: “Probation is still a system that is not fully understood in society”

Istanbul Probation Director Murat Kalkan also explained the practices within the Turkish Probation system. Kalkan stated that probation is often misunderstood in society and emphasized that it does not simply mean “release,” but also includes a strong mechanism of supervision, restriction and rehabilitation.

Sharing practices regarding children and his field experiences, Kalkan said, “Probation is a highly comprehensive system that simultaneously includes both restriction and rehabilitation. For short term prison sentences, alternative sanctions may be applied, such as unpaid work for the public benefit or continuation in an educational institution.”

Electronic monitoring bracelets have also been introduced for children

Stating that there are 149 probation directorates across Türkiye, Kalkan said, “Currently, 440,000 adults and 8,736 children driven to crime are under probation. Of these, 27,778 are women, 421,000 are men and 11,450 are foreign nationals. As of 2025, in our directorate we have managed the rehabilitation and execution processes of 17 children aged 12, 63 aged 13, 99 aged 14, 174 aged 15, 313 aged 16 and 460 aged 17. Child services constitute a much heavier and more sensitive area of responsibility compared to adults. A risk analysis is conducted for each child, including risks such as reoffending and substance use, and an individualized plan is prepared accordingly. Some children are required to sign in seven days a week, and they are prohibited from leaving their homes at night. Electronic monitoring bracelets have now been introduced for children as well. Moreover, there are new initiatives to place children in penal institutions under house arrest when conditions are appropriate.”

The panel concluded with a group photo session.