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About the publication
Author: Lara Dedić
Publishing year: 2025
The legal framework for juvenile justice in Montenegro is based on the Law on the Treatment of Juveniles in Criminal Proceedings, which has been in force since September 2012. This law prescribes special measures and procedures for handling juveniles in criminal cases, aiming to ensure their protection, respect for children’s rights, and rehabilitation rather than punishment. At the same time, it represents a special legal act focused on regulating the status, responsibility, and protection of juveniles in criminal proceedings. The law significantly incorporates a wide range of international standards, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as European instruments that emphasize that juveniles in criminal proceedings must not be treated as adult offenders, but instead be subject to a special, protective, and educational regime.
In the context of Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, special attention has been paid to aligning this law with international and European standards, particularly regarding procedural safeguards for children as suspects, witnesses, or victims (e.g. the strengthening children’s rights, establishing special procedures, and ensuring child-friendly spaces for hearings).
This publication is part of the project HEART: Supporting the Empowerment and Resilience of Youth Today, implemented by Centre for Civic Education (CCE) in partnership with the Regional Academy for Democratic Development (ADD), with the support of the EU Delegation to Montenegro and co-financing from the Ministry of Public Administration.
The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the CCE and the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the EU Delegation to Montenegro or the Ministry of Public Administration.