Application of Provisions of Part 3 of Art. 20 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on "Age Immaturity"

Abstract

The difficulty in distinguishing the mental retardation and the limited sanity of minors is preconditioned by the matching of their intellectual and volitional elements. However, the differentiation of such states is of great legal significance. The author considers the disputable issue of contradictions between the provisions of Part 3 of Art. 20 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that excludes criminal liability of a minor due to mental retardation and Art. 22 of the Criminal Code according to which a minor with a mental disorder that does not exclude responsibility is subject to criminal liability and may be subject to compulsory measures of a medical nature. The article analyzes the possible ways to eliminate contradictions between Part 3 of Art. 20 and Art. 22 of the Criminal Code. The differences are explained between mental retardation, on the one hand, and limited sanity, on the other hand. The conclusion is drawn that the term "age immaturity" corresponds more accurately to the concept of "mental retardation not associated with mental disorder."