Criminal Responsibility of Minors: Comparative Law Study Romania – Ukraine – Republic of Moldova

Valentyna Nidelchu

Valentyna Nidelchu Izmail State University of Humanities

Keywords: minimum age of criminal responsibility; educational measures; alternative sanctions; social reintegration

Abstract

This article provides a comparative legal analysis of the criminal responsibility of minors in Romania, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova, focusing on the key legal aspects: the legal object, the material object, the objective element, and the subjective element of the crimes committed by minors.
The study examines the minimum age of criminal responsibility, which varies between 14 and 16 years depending on the country and the gravity of the crime. It also explores the legal framework regulating the prosecution and sentencing of minors, emphasizing the role of discernment and rehabilitation-oriented measures.
The research highlights common principles, such as the prioritization of educational and corrective measures over punitive sanctions, while identifying differences in the application of detention and alternative sanctions. The findings suggest that all three legal systems aim to balance juvenile justice with social reintegration, aligning with international human rights standards.

References

Brutaru V., (2015), Răspunderea minorului în diferite țări europene, Revista Universul Juridic, nr. 6, Retrieved from https://vedemjust.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RASPUNDEREA-MINORULUI-IN-DIFERITE-TARI-EUROPENE.pdf, accessed on 2th November 2024;
Frîntu V.-M., (2013), Răspunderea penală a minorilor în reglementarea Noului Cod Penal, Analele Universităţii “Constantin Brâncuşi” din Târgu Jiu, Seria Ştiinţe Juridice, Nr. 2/2013, p. 127-146, Retrieved from https://www.utgjiu.ro/revista/jur/pdf/2013-02/8_VIORICA_MIHAELA_FRINTU.pdf, , accessed on 13th November 2024
Grama M., (2009), Diferențierea răspunderii penale a minorilor, Studia Universitatis, Seria Stiinte Sociale, Revista Stiintifica a Universitatii de Stat din Moldova, nr.3(23), p. 127-132, Retrieved from https://social.studiamsu.md/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/25.-p.127-132.pdf, accessed on 12th November 2024
Pasat A. O. (2016a), Analysis criminology customs offenses under Moldovan law. Tribuna Juridică, Vol. 6 Issue (2), p. 202-215, ISSN 2247-7195/e-ISSN 2248-0382/ISSN-L 2247-7195, Retrieved from http://www.tribunajuridica.eu/arhiva/An6v22/14%20Pasat.pdf, accessed on 4th November 2024
Pasat A. O., (2016b), Criminological aspects on customs offences in Romania. Perspectives of Business Law Journal, Vol. 05 Issue 1, p. 8-20, ISSN 2286-0649/online-ISSN 2286-0649, Retrieved from https://www.businesslawconference.ro/revista/articole/an5nr1/Art.%202.%20Pasat%20Octavian.pdf, accessed on 9th November 2024
Pasat A. O., (2017) Pre-existing elements of customs offenses in accordance with the lgislation of the Republic of Moldova and these of Romania. Perspectives of Business Law Journal, Vol. 6, Issue 1, p. 54-64, ISSN 2286-0649, ISSN-L 2286-0649, Retrieved from https://businesslawconference.ro/revista/articole/an6nr1/9.%20Pasat.pdf; accessed on 29th October 2024
Pasat A. O., (2019), Crimes Motivated by Hate, Differentiation and Religious Discussion in Compared Criminal Law (Romania and the Republic of Moldova), În Dynamic Elements in the Contemporary Business Law, Contributions to the 9th International Conference Perspectives of Business Law in the Third Millennium, November 8, 2019, Bucharest, Dobrinka Chankova (Ed.), Ivan Pankevych (Ed.), ISBN 978-606-94312-9-0 (E-Book), p. 136-148, Retrieved from https://www.ceeol.com/search/viewpdf?id=861575 accessed on 27th October 2024
Pasat A. O., (2021), The crime of domestic violence. Aspects of comparative law. Perspectives of Law and Public Administration, Vol. 10 Issue (3), p. 392-403, ISSN 2601-7830, ISSN-L 2601-7830, Retrieved from https://www.adjuris.ro/revista/articole/An10nr3/21.%20Octavian%20Pasat%20Articol%202.pdf, accessed on 4thNovember 2024
Pasat A. O., (2022), Criminal liability of an juvenile offender. Acta Universitatis Danubius. Juridica, Vol. 18 nr. 3, p. 71-90, ISSN 1844-8062/Online ISSN 2065-3891, Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/AUDJ/article/view/2006, accessed on 10th October 2024
Pasat A. O. (2023a), Trafficking in Human Beings. Peculiarities of Criminal Legal Characteristics. Adapting to Change Business Law Insights from Today’s International Legal Landscape, Contributions to the 13th International Conference Challenges of Business Law in the Third Millennium, November 17, 2023, Bucharest, Cristina Elena Popa Tache (ed.), Renata Treneska Deskoska (ed.), Nathaniel Boyd (ed.), Marijana Mladenov (ed.), Isabelle Oprea (ed.), Daniela Duta (ed.), Konstantinos Kouroupis (ed.), Leonidas D, Sotiropoulos (ed.). Editura Adjuris, ISBN 978-606-95862-3-5 (E-Book), p. 118 – 128, Retrieved from https://www.adjuris.ro/books/acbl/Adapting%20to%20Change%20Business%20Law%20Insights.pdf, accessed on 4th October 2024
Pasat A.O., (2023b), Organized Crime - Aspects of Comparative Law. În Tempore Mutationis in International and Comparative Law, Contributions to the 3 rd Conference on Comparative and International Law International Conference June 23, 2023, Bucharest, Federica Cristani (ed.), Cristina Elena Popa Tache (Ed.). Editura Adjuris, ISBN 978-606-95351-9-6 (E-Book), p. 209 - 229, Retrieved from https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001325442900013, accessed on 14thOctober 2023
Pasat A. O. (2023c), General features specific to crimes against the person. Perspectives of Law and Public Administration, Vol. 12, Issue (1), p. 41-49, ISSN 2601-7830, ISSN-L 2601-7830, Retrieved from https://www.adjuris.ro/revista/articole/An12nr1/4.%20Pasat%20Art.%202%20EN.pdf; accessed on 16th October 2024
Paşca V., (2011), Drept penal. Partea generală, Bucureşti: Editura Universul Juridic;
Puica V., (2014), Justiția juvenilă îndrumar pentru judecători și procurori, Chişinau: Combinatul Poligrafic, Retrieved from https://www.inj.md/sites/default/files/Justitia%20juvenila%20indrumar%20pentru%20judecatori%20si%20procurori.pdf, accessed on 30th October 2024