NCJ Number
166275
Date Published
1996
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes Slovakia's juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The law in Slovakia is very similar to that of Austria and Germany and the country's legal procedures concerning children are similar. Children have the same legal rights as adults, with special regulations which affect children in both criminal and civil court proceedings, and more rights than an adult during police investigation of a crime. The age of criminal responsibility is 15. Offenders younger than 15 are dealt with in civil proceedings by the guardianship court. In a criminal trial the child has the right to appeal, to give evidence, to call witnesses, to receive written decisions, and to have an attorney, paid for by the state if necessary. Slovakia's criminal and family law are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which was incorporated into the country's constitution in 1992, and professionals in Slovakia consider that their system for dealing with young offenders works well.