In this interview, the National Director of National Youth Service (SENAME) explains how the 2006 law reform on juveniles’ penal responsibility (RPA) has affected the juvenile justice system in Chile, transforming it into one that recognizes and safeguards juveniles’ rights, via differential treatment from adult offenders and a pronounced focus on socio-educational intervention, empowerment and social reintegration.

The IJJO has the pleasure to inform you about the publication of the second IJJO interview. Paulina Fernández Fawaz, Former National Director of the National Service for Minors (SENAME) in Chile, has answered our questions about the ‘Law No. 20.084 criminal responsibility of juveniles.’ This law emphasizes the special principles and guarantees of the attention towards the minor in the process of growing, the need of immediacy in the proceedings and the respect the major interest of the minor. The age of criminal responsibility is set at 14 years, for adolescents older than 14 years and younger than 18 years. It also includes factors to obtain an efficient social reinsertion and a major responsabilisation of their acts. In this interview, Mrs. Fernández, informs us about the fundamental changes which will affect minors in conflict with the law and reasserts the importance of a greater respect of the minor’s rights and emphasizes as a fundamental principle, the maximum consideration of the superior interest of the adolescent.