Prison Organization: Average Age of Criminals Has Decreased from 36 to 30 Years

Asghar Jahangir, the head of the country's Prison Organization, stated that the average age of "criminals" in Iran has decreased from 36 years to 30 years, and the parliament must "revise" laws to prevent "unjust increases in imprisonment." In an interview published on Tuesday, December 23, by ILNA news agency, Jahangir added that the "age of crime" in Iran is "declining." He mentioned that the causes and factors behind this decrease in the "age of crime" are on the agenda of the Judiciary and the Prison Organization. Jahangir identified "youth unemployment" as one of the most important factors contributing to crime in Iran, stating that "unemployment leads to indebtedness and delinquency." He also noted that "illiteracy" and lack of necessary education are other factors contributing to the increase in crime, reporting that 10 percent of prisoners in Iran are "completely illiterate." According to him, nearly 40 percent of prisoners have "education close to the cycle level," and "educational sectors should assist in compulsory education to provide basic and essential training to individuals." The head of the Prison Organization also urged the government to "work on employment, alleviate unemployment, and assist the people," and advised the Judiciary to avoid "prolonged litigation" in reviewing cases. In Iran, according to Mustafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice, as of December 5 of this year, there are 269 prisoners for every 100,000 people. For comparison, in Denmark, the figure is 61, in the United States nearly 700, in Japan 49, in South Africa 292, in Switzerland 84, and in Malaysia 161 per 100,000 people. A significant percentage of prisoners in Iran are young individuals, many of whom have committed crimes related to drug trafficking or theft. The rates of sexual labor, drug use, delinquency, and similar issues have also shown a declining trend over recent years, with various statistics published on this matter. While numerous reports in recent years have indicated a decrease in the age of sexual labor and addiction to below 15 years, officials of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly denied these reports.