Children in Turkey are being drawn into crime as poverty deepens and gangs recruit minors, according to an analysis published by BBC’s Turkish service that reported children are involved in about 200,000 criminal cases each year.
A total of 4,582 minors are held in juvenile detention centers, according to data from the Justice Ministry. The number of youngsters under supervised release stands at 9,763.
Boran Ali Mercan, a criminologist, said children are growing up “in a culture where crime is not only not frowned upon but is even supported.” Mercan said children adopt older people they see in their immediate environment and figures they encounter on digital platforms as role models.
Cengiz Erdinç, a journalist who reports on organized crime, said criminal organizations are getting younger. “In the classic mafia we used to see, middle-aged men would use young people or children. Now a 20-year-old man uses a child under 18,” he said.
According to indictments cited by BBC, dozens of minors aged 14 to 17 are involved in organized crime in Turkey. One indictment said 40 children took part in 32 criminal acts, while another investigation found that 20 of 70 detained individuals were minors.
Experts interviewed by BBC said gangs first attract poor children by showing money and status, then provide income and a sense of belonging. Mercan said gangs “offer the opportunity to have money, fame and power in a world surrounded by deprivation.”
A former gang member interviewed by BBC under the pseudonym Ahmet said gangs target poor, orphaned or otherwise vulnerable children. He said they draw children in by showing money and status. Ahmet, who committed his first crime at the age of 15, said gang members tell children, “When you grow up, you will be like me,” and take them around to build loyalty. “Those powerful people, why do they need you? Don’t let anyone use you,” he said.
Dozens of minors have been formally charged as part of an investigation into the İstanbul-based “Casperlar” criminal organization. An indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office names 68 minors as “children driven into crime,” accusing them of offenses including membership in an armed criminal organization, attempted murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery. An İstanbul court is still reviewing the indictment.
Under Article 31 of the Turkish Penal Code, children under the age of 12 have no criminal liability. Children ages 12 to 15 have limited criminal liability, while those ages 15 to 18 bear criminal responsibility but receive reduced sentences compared to adults.
Hatice Kaynak, a child rights lawyer, said early intervention is key to preventing repeat offenses. “When you intervene correctly at the child’s first offense, they don’t commit crimes again, but we are late in this intervention,” she said, adding that “restorative” mechanisms should be used instead of harsh penalties.