Miguel Uribe's assassination: How does the juvenile justice system work?

The 15-year-old teenager who killed presidential candidate Miguel Uribe remains in a suitable room in the bunker of the Attorney General's Office in Bogotá.

This is because, as a minor, the law allows him to be held not in a regular cell, but in a Specialized Care Center . The young man is waiting for a decision on where he will serve his seven-year sentence for the assassination of the Democratic Center senator.

(Also: Another person involved in the murder of Miguel Uribe is arrested: that makes seven ).

This is because the justice system doesn't work the same way for minors, as the Law on Children and Adolescents applies to them, which determines the severity of the penalties for this population group. Here's how it works:

Criminal Responsibility System for Adolescents

According to the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF), the Adolescent Criminal Responsibility System (SRPA) is a mechanism created to address cases in which young people between the ages of 14 and 18 commit crimes. It doesn't operate the same way as adult justice, because its primary objective is not to punish, but rather to teach, guide, and help adolescents change their behavior.

This system involves specialized judges, prosecutors, and other institutions that support the process. Everything is handled with a pedagogical and educational approach , seeking to ensure that the young person understands the harm they caused, repairs the consequences as much as possible, and reintegrates into society in a positive way .

()You can read: The minor hitman who murdered Miguel Uribe was sentenced to seven years .)

The Prosecutor's Office may even halt or suspend criminal proceedings if it deems it best for the young person's learning and recovery. Sanctions are not just punishments, but measures with an educational purpose, such as: - Warnings. - Rules of conduct to be followed. - Community service. - Probation. - Internment in supervised centers.

- In the most serious cases, deprivation of liberty.

What is the longest sentence a minor can receive?

According to the ICBF, when a teenager between the ages of 14 and 18 commits very serious crimes, such as intentional homicide, kidnapping, extortion or certain aggravated sexual crimes , he or she may be punished by imprisonment in a specialized center .

(Also: Miguel Uribe Turbay's father will be a presidential candidate for the Democratic Center .)

In these places, it is not just about locking up the young person, but about keeping him or her under a stricter and more controlled measure that seeks attention and training .

The sanction can last between two and eight years , depending on the judge's decision in each case. Furthermore, during this time, the adolescent cannot access benefits to reduce the sentence; in other words, they must serve the entire sentence.

PORTFOLIO