Verônica Domingues criticized what she described as Lula's intention to lower the age of criminal responsibility. She stated that the measure would be a simplistic response to a complex issue and labeled it as "penal populism." Domingues said she did not support impunity for heinous crimes but opposed incarcerating adolescents alongside adults in prisons that, according to her, were already overcrowded. In her assessment, lowering the age of criminal responsibility before addressing social and racial inequalities in Brazil would deepen these problems, including within the prison system. She also stated that Black and poor adolescents would be more affected by the measure, while white and wealthy youths would escape punishments to the same extent. Domingues criticized those who, according to her, accuse of racism those who point out this risk and said that experts, and not just public opinion, should guide the debate. The author further lamented that sectors of the left supported the proposal and asserted that advocating for the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility was incompatible with being leftist in Brazil. She acknowledged that heinous crimes provoked outrage and a desire for revenge but urged that the issue be discussed without reactionary speeches. #MaioridadePenal #DesigualdadeSocial #PopulismoPenal (translated)
