Naples, Italy – A recent report by Save the Children, titled “Dis(armed). An investigation into the spread of youth violence, between perception and reality,” reveals a disturbing trend in Naples: a significant increase in the number of adolescents accused of homicide. In the first half of 2025 alone, 27 minors were arrested or reported for homicide, a figure that is almost on par with the total for the entire previous year, which stood at 28.
Alarming Statistics from Campania
The Campania region, where Naples is located, registers the highest incidence of juvenile homicides in Italy, with 0.15 cases per thousand inhabitants aged 14 to 17. This represents a substantial rise compared to 2024, which itself saw a notable increase from 2019, when only 13 minors were arrested or reported for homicide. The report, supported by the Iris Ceramica Group Ets Foundation, provides a fragmented picture of changing intensity and modalities of violence perpetrated by adolescents, both individually and in groups.
The Impact of the Caivano Decree
The study also highlights an extended stay of minors within the juvenile justice system, partly due to the implementation of the Caivano Decree. This suggests a systemic challenge in addressing the root causes and consequences of youth violence.
Weapons and Personal Injuries on the Rise
Beyond homicides, Naples faces a severe problem with illegal weapon possession among minors. In the first six months of 2025, 73 minors were arrested or reported for carrying weapons. This number has more than doubled since 2014, when 65 minors were involved, reaching 152 in 2024. Similar increases have been observed in other major Italian cities such as Milan (152 in 2024), Rome (96), Bologna (88), and Turin (82).
Furthermore, 73 minors were accused of personal injuries in the first half of 2025 (compared to 147 in all of 2024), and 18 for brawls (42 in the previous year). Experts suggest these figures indicate a worrying escalation in the level of conflict within the city.
Organized Crime and Social Media’s Role
While Sicily has seen a decrease in minors reported for robbery and criminal association, the incidence of minors involved in mafia-type associations remains a concern, being the highest in Italy. Nationally, 46 minors were reported or arrested for mafia association in the first six months of 2025, signaling a potential increase from the 49 recorded in all of 2024. Of these 46, nearly half were in Catania (15) and Naples (6).
The Save the Children report also emphasizes how social media has transformed the nature of youth violence over the last decade. Violence has become more immediate, visible, shared, and amplified through online platforms. However, the report also notes that the prevalence of different types of violent crimes varies across the national territory.
The Evolving Nature of Youth Violence
Robberies, brawls, and personal injuries have increased, often exhibiting an
