Imputabilidad Penal Juvenil en Paraguay. Análisis Comparativo de la Viabilidad de Reformar la Edad Mínima y la Pena Máxima para Menores Infractores

This study confronts the complexities of juvenile criminal responsibility in Paraguay by assessing the viability of reforming the minimum age of liability and the maximum penalties for young offenders. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates a comparative legal analysis of frameworks across Latin America, Europe, and the United States with statistical data and foundational legal principles. Results demonstrate that for offenses marked by premeditation, cruelty, or treachery, a legal basis exists for adjusting imputability and sentencing limits. Furthermore, the analysis pinpoints structural drivers of youth crime—notably poverty, educational abandonment, and domestic violence. This work extends prior research in juvenile justice by proposing legal alternatives designed to strike a new balance between punishment and measures aimed at protection and social reintegration.