Armenia

In Armenia a juvenile offender is considered a person who has reached the age of 14 but has not yet turned 18 at the time of committing a crime.

Types of punishments imposed on juveniles are:

1. Fine

2. Community service

3. Deprivation of the right to engage in certain activities

4. Restriction of freedom

5. Short-term imprisonment

6. Imprisonment

   
   

Short-term imprisonment for a juvenile is imposed only if a more lenient punishment cannot achieve the objectives of punishment. Short-term imprisonment is not imposed on juveniles for minor offenses or for a first-time offense of medium gravity. A juvenile is not sentenced to imprisonment for minor offenses or for a first-time offense of medium gravity that does not involve violence.

When sentencing a juvenile or a person under 21, the court, among other issues, also considers their living and upbringing conditions, mental development, health status, personal characteristics, and the influence of other individuals on them.

If a juvenile or a person under 21 is charged for the first time with a minor or medium-gravity offense, they are exempt from criminal liability if the court justifies that the objectives of punishment can be achieved through educational corrective measures. The court may impose the following educational corrective measures on a juvenile or a person under 21:

• Assigning them to the supervision of local self-government bodies or an authorized body overseeing the behavior of convicts for up to one year.

• Requiring them to compensate for the damage caused within a maximum of six months.

• Restricting leisure activities and imposing specific behavioral requirements for up to one year.

• Requiring them to continue or complete their education, or, in the case of those aged 18-21, to find employment with the support of local self-government bodies.

• Mandating participation in special educational, sports, cultural, or public programs, or rehabilitation programs in a rehabilitation institution.

If a juvenile convicted of a minor or medium-gravity offense the court may decide to place him/her in a rehabilitation institution. Placement in a rehabilitation institution is for a maximum of three years. The stay in a rehabilitation institution may be terminated early if the court determines that the individual no longer needs this measure.

When deciding not to impose a sentence on a juvenile or a person under 21, the court considers the nature of the offense, mitigating and aggravating circumstances, as well as the moral and psychological characteristics associated with the person's age, and their living and upbringing conditions. When not imposing a sentence, the court establishes a probation period ranging from one to three years.

Criminal Procedure

1. A psychologist must be involved in any investigative procedure involving a juvenile.

2. A juvenile's legal representative has the right to participate in investigative procedures involving them.

3. Upon the psychologist’s recommendation and to protect the legitimate interests of a juvenile victim or witness, before commencing an investigative action involving testimony, the investigator formulates and agrees on the questions to be asked with the psychologist.

4. Upon the psychologist’s recommendation and to protect the legitimate interests of a juvenile victim or witness, the questions from the detainee, the accused, or their defense attorney are presented to the juvenile only after coordination with the psychologist and without direct communication with the juvenile.

5. A juvenile under the age of sixteen who participates in an investigative procedure involving testimony is informed of their obligation to provide truthful testimony but will not be subject to criminal liability for refusing to testify or providing false testimony.

   
   

   Rate of children in detention per 100,000: 2 (October 2022) https://data.unicef.org/resources/dataset/children-in-detention/