Brazil

Abstract

The chapter provides an overview of the structure and practices of the Brazilian juvenile justice system as well as a discussion of juvenile crime and its causes. The chapter begins by chronicling the evolution of juvenile justice in Brazil from its beginnings in the nineteenth century through the present day, focusing on the development of laws and practices that distinguished the treatment of juveniles from adults and their relationship to international legal statutes such as the United Nations Convention of Rights of the Child. The second part of the chapter focuses on recent trends in juvenile crime and current explanations for juvenile crime, Especially the intersection of juvenile crime, particularly theft, drug trafficking, and homicide, with the participation in territorialized youth groups such as gangs. The final section of the chapter describes the specifics of the current treatment of juveniles in the justice system, detailing the procedures and practices in policing, the courts, and custodial interventions for juveniles.