Judicial Supervision Applied to Minors During Criminal Investigation. Between Procedural Necessity and The Protection of The Best Interests of The Child
Abstract
Judicial control is one of the main non-custodial preventive measures, with the role of ensuring the proper conduct of the criminal trial by preventing specific procedural risks. However, the application of this measure in the case of minors raises specific issues, generated by the need to reconcile procedural requirements with the state's obligation to protect the best interests of the child. The article analyzes the legal regime of judicial control applied to minors, from a normative and critical perspective, highlighting the need to ensure a balance between the preventive function of the measure and its impact on the fundamental rights of the minor. At the same time, the analysis is placed within the framework of international standards on juvenile justice, underlining the importance of the principles of proportionality, subsidiarity and the educational nature of criminal intervention. In conclusion, the article supports the need for a differentiated and nuanced application of judicial control towards minors, and discusses the opportunity for normative adjustments aimed at ensuring a real balance between the efficiency of the criminal trial and the protection of the rights of the child.
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