Juvenile correctional facilities reclassified under child protection system

A government resolution published in the Magyar Közlöny on Wednesday evening reinstates four juvenile correctional centers—located in Debrecen, Nagykanizsa, Aszod and Rákospalota—into the child protection and social services network, effective Thursday. The law aims to ensure that the educational, psychological and social needs of minors housed there are fully addressed outside the penal framework. Funds that remained unused in the prison budget will be transferred to child welfare programs.

This shift reverses a 2025 decree that placed the institutions under the National Prison Command, a move that had been met with concern by specialist organizations. Child protection and family affairs state secretary Gyurkó Szilvia held a press briefing after the findings of a system-wide review were presented, during which the prime minister also apologized to those affected and announced the creation of a large crisis-response centre.