Slovak Court Places Repeat-Offending Teen in State Care Over Mother's Objections

A Slovak court has ordered a teenage boy into institutional care after he repeatedly committed theft and used drugs, overriding his mother's objections. The youth appeared before the court and promised judges he would change his behavior, but the court determined that institutional supervision was necessary. In Slovakia, courts may transfer guardianship of minors to state-run youth facilities when a family environment is deemed unable to prevent continued criminal or harmful behavior. The mother opposed the decision, but the court concluded that the pattern of reoffending left insufficient grounds to keep the boy in the family home.