# Brazilian Senate Debates Penal Majority Reduction Amid Security Reforms Legislators discuss lowering the age of criminal responsibility following recent security amendment approval. - **Source:** [Poder360](https://www.poder360.com.br) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f8b8abc0-2d48-4b4d-bc64-dcef2a0e8aa5 ## Senate Security Reform Context The Brazilian Senate recently approved PEC 18/2025, widely known as the Public Security Amendment. This legislative measure aims to enhance coordination between various security agencies and strengthen national efforts against organized crime. The proposal secured overwhelming support, receiving 73 votes in the first round and 75 votes in the second round. ## Debate Over Penal Majority During the plenary sessions, the reduction of the penal majority emerged as a central point of contention. Although not part of the original security proposal, the topic was introduced through two separate amendments. Legislators are now actively debating whether to lower the age at which individuals are held criminally responsible for crimes. ## Procedural Challenges and Jabutis The rapporteur for the security proposal formally requested that the penal majority suggestions be moved to a separate constitutional amendment. He classified the inclusion of these specific amendments as a jabuti, a term used in Brazilian politics to describe unrelated riders attached to a primary legislative text to bypass standard deliberation. ## Current Legislative Schedule Following the successful passage of the broader security package, the Senate scheduled a dedicated session for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to address the penal majority issue. This follow-up discussion is intended to isolate the controversial topic from the already approved security framework, ensuring that the primary amendment can proceed toward final promulgation. ## Political Party Negotiations Recent reports indicate that major political factions, specifically the PT and PL parties, are currently negotiating a common text regarding the reduction of the penal majority. These discussions highlight the cross-party effort to find a consensus on a highly sensitive social issue that has historically divided the Brazilian legislative body for many years. ## Constitutional Amendment Process In Brazil, a PEC (Proposta de Emenda à Constituição) requires a rigorous approval process involving two rounds of voting in both chambers of Congress. The recent success of PEC 18/2025 demonstrates a strong legislative appetite for security reform, though the penal majority issue remains a distinct and complex constitutional challenge for the senators. ## Broader Security Implications The approval of the Public Security Amendment marks a significant shift in how the state manages inter-agency cooperation. By integrating disparate security bodies, the government seeks to create a more unified front against criminal organizations. The ongoing debate regarding the age of criminal responsibility is viewed as an extension of this broader strategy. ## Future Legislative Outlook The outcome of the Wednesday session will determine whether the penal majority reduction moves forward as a standalone proposal or faces further delays. Observers are closely monitoring these developments to see if the current political momentum can bridge the gap between opposing ideological views on juvenile justice and national public safety policies. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-videos/ao-vivo-senado-discute-maioridade-penal-nesta-4a-feira/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._