Young adulthood, criminal justice reform, developmentally appropriate sentencing, legal capacity and maturity, age-responsive criminal law

This study examines the conceptual and normative foundations for recognizing young adulthood (ages 18–24) as a distinct category in Hungarian criminal law. While current legislation treats individuals as fully responsible adults from age 18, empirical research from psychology, sociology, and criminology suggests that many young adults lack the psychosocial maturity typically associated with full adulthood. The analysis draws on national and comparative legal sources, judicial practice, and international frameworks to assess whether young adults warrant differentiated treatment in criminal justice. Findings reveal a normative gap in Hungarian law: the concept of “young adult” is inconsistently applied, lacking statutory definition and leading to judicial ambiguity. Based on legal theory, empirical criminal statistics, and comparative models, the study proposes the introduction of a formal legal definition within the Criminal Code and the inclusion of a new mitigating provision under Chapter IX. This reform would enhance legal clarity, promote proportional sentencing, and respect both judicial discretion and constitutional principles. The paper concludes that codifying young adulthood as a distinct penal category is both necessary and feasible for a more just and developmentally informed criminal justice system.

SZABÓ, BERNADETT – CZEBE, ANDRÁS