President Santiago Peña enacted Law No. 7683, which modifies the Child and Adolescent Code to increase the maximum sentence of deprivation of liberty for minors in exceptionally serious cases from 8 to 10 years. The enactment took place on July 9th, after the Chamber of Deputies approved the bill on June 16th.
The legislative change was driven by the brutal murder of 17-year-old adolescent María Fernanda Benítez, which occurred in May 2025 in Coronel Oviedo. She was pregnant when she was killed, a fact that, according to investigations, is believed to have been the motive for the crime.
The approved text establishes that in extreme situations, a judge may impose a sentence of up to ten years if they conclude that no other measure is sufficient to guarantee the adolescent's education, protection, and social reintegration. The decision must be substantiated with an assessment of the gravity of the act, the minor's participation, their background, and technical reports.
The Senate had proposed raising the limit to 15 years, but the final version of 10 years prevailed with 43 votes in the Lower House. The law maintains the principle that the duration of the sentence must prioritize educational and reintegration purposes, and not the criminal benchmarks applicable to adults.