Bukele signs reforms allowing life prison sentences for people as young as 12

"The constitutional reforms signed by President Bukele allow for life prison sentences for individuals as young as 12, targeting serious crimes such as homicide, femicide, and gang membership."

"Bukele's government has detained around 91,650 people under a crackdown on gangs, with less than 10% of those individuals released, raising concerns over human rights abuses."

"The reforms will create new criminal courts to handle cases and mandate reviews of life sentences based on the convict's age and the severity of their crimes."

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele enacted constitutional reforms permitting life sentences for individuals as young as 12 for serious crimes like homicide and gang membership. This change, passed by Bukele's party-controlled Legislative Assembly, follows a series of stringent measures in Bukele's ongoing war on gangs. The reforms will establish new criminal courts and require mandatory reviews of life sentences. Critics argue these measures contribute to human rights abuses, as Bukele's government has detained over 91,650 individuals, often without clear evidence, while also reducing homicide rates significantly.

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