Child Violence: Strobl Questions Criminal Age - Baden-Württemberg faces 70% surge in school violence over a decade
Youth Violence Surge: Strobl Questions Age of Criminal Responsibility
They extort, steal, assault—and even stab: violence among children in Baden-Württemberg has been rising for years. Now, Interior Minister Thomas Strobl is demanding action.
The state government is deeply alarmed by the growing wave of violent crime involving children. Last year, authorities recorded the highest number of suspected child offenders under 14 in at least two decades, according to figures provided by the Interior Ministry to the German Press Agency. A total of 1,243 children were registered in connection with violent crimes—nearly three times the 456 cases reported a decade ago.
Facing this trend, Strobl has called into question Germany's long-standing age of criminal responsibility. "The current rule is over 100 years old, and a 14-year-old today is not the same as a 14-year-old in 1923," the CDU politician argued. Back then, he noted, there was no internet or social media. "We must urgently reexamine this."
Under German law, children under 14 cannot be held criminally liable—a threshold set in 1923. In a letter to Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD), Strobl and Baden-Württemberg's Justice Minister Marion Gentges (CDU) have proposed commissioning a study on "age-related development of children's capacity for moral judgment and self-control." They insist this must include a review of the minimum age of criminal responsibility.
Strobl is set to present the latest police crime statistics on Thursday. While youth crime shows some positive trends—overall, the number of suspects under 21 dropped by 9.6% last year to 43,899 (a ten-year low if the pandemic year 2021 is excluded)—violations of immigration law were not factored into these figures.
Violent Crime Among Children Up 120% in a Decade
Though the number of suspected child offenders under 14 fell by 5.3% compared to the previous year, the long-term trend is upward. Over the past decade, Strobl warned, the number of child suspects in the southwest has surged by roughly 57%. "When it comes to assaults, the increase is even more dramatic—nearly 120%." He stressed the need for a far more robust response to child violence.
Violent Crime at Record Highs
Most child and youth offenses involve assaults and theft—primarily shoplifting, according to the ministry. The decline in overall youth crime is largely due to drops in shoplifting (down 18.2%), fare evasion (down 27.1%), and drug offenses (down 42%), with the partial legalization of cannabis also influencing the latter. However, the number of young suspects in violent crimes remains above the ten-year average, even after a 7% decrease in 2025 to 6,237. Among children, the figure continues to climb, reaching 1,243—the highest in years.
School Violence: More Victims Despite Overall Decline
While school-related violence has decreased, it remains a pressing issue: in 2025, 214 teachers and 2,612 students fell victim to crimes—a 7.1% drop from the previous year. Yet since 2016, the number of victims has risen by nearly 70%, with assaults showing the sharpest increase, the ministry reported.
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