«Non chiamateli fascicoli, sono ragazzi»

A proposed bill approved by the Council of Ministers on July 23 is sparking debate regarding the legal responsibility of minors. The draft law presumes that children aged 14 and older possess the capacity to understand and intend their actions.

This legislative discussion follows several violent incidents involving minors across the Lombardy region. Recent cases include a family massacre in Paderno Dugnano and an incident in the summer of 2025 where an elderly woman died after being struck by a car driven by four children between the ages of 11 and 13, all of whom were legally deemed not responsible for their actions.

Maria Carla Gatto, who served as the president of the Tribunale per i minorenni di Milano for eight years until her retirement in July 2025, oversaw the court covering eight provinces. The court's jurisdiction includes Sondrio, Varese, Lodi, and Pavia.