Patricia Bullrich: “It is unacceptable that there are young people who kill and are released without serving a fair sentence”

The Minister of Security,Patricia Bullrich , asked Congress for the "urgent" treatment of the Juvenile Penal System after the crime of Kim Gómez, the 7-year-old girl murdered in La Plata by 14 and 17-year-old criminals. "Argentines cannot wait any longer. We cannot continue to allow impunity for juvenile offenders, and even less so for repeat offenders," said Bullrich.

The minister's claim comes amid a context of growing concern about insecurity in the province of Buenos Aires. In her message, Bullrich in a post on the social network X insisted on the need for minors who commit serious crimes to face more severe judicial consequences and said: "It is unacceptable that there are young people who commit crimes, kill and are released without serving a fair sentence," she said.

The national official also took direct aim at Governor Axel Kicillof, questioning his management in matters of security. "Kicillof, your uselessness is costing lives. Let's hope that your deputies approve this Law, or are you in favor of this continuing to happen?" Bullrich said, in a message that was reposted by President Javier Milei .

The murder of Kim Gomez shocked the country. The girl was inside the car with her mother when two thieves tried to steal the vehicle. Unable to get out in time, she was dragged for about 20 blocks and died from her injuries. Hours after the crime, the criminals were arrested and it was confirmed that they were teenagers aged 14 and 17, which revived the debate on the age of criminal responsibility.

In 2024, Javier Milei's government presented a bill establishing a juvenile criminal regime for young people from the age of 13, while the opposition proposed that the limit of imputability be set at 14. "This is a fundamental step so that criminals cannot hide behind their age and have to face justice," said Bullrich about the initiative.

The text of the draft states: "The adolescent must be housed in an appropriate detention facility or in a separate adult section of a prison establishment, suitable for the treatment of adolescents, which each jurisdiction will organize following the general principles established."

Another point of debate within Congress was the type of punishments that would be applied to juvenile offenders. Bullrich defended the official proposal and explained that "the imposition of life sentences and life imprisonment will be prohibited," establishing a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years for the most serious crimes. "We are not seeking disproportionate punishments, but rather justice for the victims," ​​concluded the national official.

THE MINOR ARRESTED FOR THE DEATH OF KIM GOMEZ WILL REMAIN IN PRISON

Prosecutor Carmen Ibarra, in charge of investigating the murder of the seven-year-old girl who died after a car was stolen in La Plata, decided that the 14-year-old teenager arrested for the crime should be locked up. pic.twitter.com/DeXkPTqNtV