The criminal law assessment of young adults in Hungary

Szabó, Bernadett and Czebe, András (2024) The criminal law assessment of young adults in Hungary. STUDIA JURIDICA ET POLITICA JAURINENSIS, 11 (2). pp. 1-11. ISSN 2064-5902

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Abstract

This study examines the conceptual and normative foundations forrecognizing young adulthood (ages 18–24) as a distinct category inHungarian criminal law. While current legislation treats individuals as fullyresponsible adults from age 18, empirical research from psychology,sociology, and criminology suggests that many young adults lack thepsychosocial maturity typically associated with full adulthood. Theanalysis draws on national and comparative legal sources, judicialpractice, and international frameworks to assess whether young adultswarrant differentiated treatment in criminal justice. Findings reveal anormative gap in Hungarian law: the concept of “young adult” isinconsistently applied, lacking statutory defnition and leading to judicialambiguity. Based on legal theory, empirical criminal statistics, andcomparative models, the study proposes the introduction of a formallegal defnition within the Criminal Code and the inclusion of a newmitigating provision under Chapter IX. This reform would enhance legalclarity, promote proportional sentencing, and respect both judicialdiscretion and constitutional principles. The paper concludes thatcodifying young adulthood as a distinct penal category is both necessaryand feasible for a more just and developmentally informed criminaljustice system.

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