Crackdown On Youth Gangs

April 2007 | Ratings Update

The persistent violence that has plagued Panama in recent years has led President Martin Torrijos to toughen up his policy on criminal youth gangs. In a news conference, Torrijos told reporters that raids on criminal gangs were going to intensify. Plans to toughen laws have been proposed, including an increase in the prison sentence for youths convicted of homicide, in an attempt to stem the problem. In the 'law and lrder' category of our structural political ratings, a score of six reflects Panama's relatively ineffective judicial

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