Deterrence Reduces Juvenile Crime
Juvenile crimes continued their downward trend for the second consecutive year, recording a notable decline during the first half of the current year, after their numbers dropped by approximately half compared to the same period in 2025. Traffic-related cases accounted for the largest decrease, falling by 63 percent.
Justice Minister and Advisor Nasser Al-Sumeit announced that the Ministry’s statistics showed a 48 percent drop in juvenile crimes during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with the number of cases decreasing from 1,523 to 795.
Al-Sumeit clarified that the decline included several prominent categories registered with the Juvenile Prosecution, led by traffic cases, which fell by 63 percent, from 1,048 cases in the first half of 2025 to 383 cases in the same period of 2026. Assault cases also decreased by 32 percent.
He noted that this decline coincided with a legislative path pursued by the government to enhance deterrence and prevention in several crimes involving juveniles, through a package of amendments targeting the most dangerous behaviors and those with the greatest impact on individual and public safety.
These reforms included the issuance of a new Traffic Law, stricter penalties for serious traffic violations, harsher punishments for murder and negligent injury, the adoption of a new law combating drugs and psychotropic substances, and the criminalization of possessing or carrying white weapons without legitimate justification in public places, along with increased penalties when such weapons are used in assaults or to terrorize others.
The Minister of Justice explained that legislative factors constitute one of the key elements considered when interpreting the decline indicators, alongside other preventive and social factors.
He praised the efforts of the Ministry of Interior in preventing and combating juvenile crimes, and the Ministry of Social Affairs in caring for and rehabilitating juveniles, while also commending the role of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Ministry of Health in protecting children from violence and abuse and providing them with care and support.
