Directive (EU) 2016/800 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 7 Right to an individual assessment

1. Member States shall ensure that the specific needs of children concerning protection, education, training and social integration are taken into account.

2. For that purpose children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings shall be individually assessed. The individual assessment shall, in particular, take into account the child's personality and maturity, the child's economic, social and family background, and any specific vulnerabilities that the child may have.

3. The extent and detail of the individual assessment may vary depending on the circumstances of the case, the measures that can be taken if the child is found guilty of the alleged criminal offence, and whether the child has, in the recent past, been the subject of an individual assessment.

4. The individual assessment shall serve to establish and to note, in accordance with the recording procedure in the Member State concerned, such information about the individual characteristics and circumstances of the child as might be of use to the competent authorities when:

(a) determining whether any specific measure to the benefit of the child is to be taken;

(b) assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of any precautionary measures in respect of the child;

(c) taking any decision or course of action in the criminal proceedings, including when sentencing.

5. The individual assessment shall be carried out at the earliest appropriate stage of the proceedings and, subject to paragraph 6, before indictment.

6. In the absence of an individual assessment, an indictment may nevertheless be presented provided that this is in the child's best interests and that the individual assessment is in any event available at the beginning of the trial hearings before a court.

7. Individual assessments shall be carried out with the close involvement of the child. They shall be carried out by qualified personnel, following, as far as possible, a multidisciplinary approach and involving, where appropriate, the holder of parental responsibility, or another appropriate adult as referred to in Articles 5 and 15, and/or a specialised professional.

8. If the elements that form the basis of the individual assessment change significantly, Member States shall ensure that the individual assessment is updated throughout the criminal proceedings.

9. Member States may derogate from the obligation to carry out an individual assessment where such a derogation is warranted in the circumstances of the case, provided that it is compatible with the child's best interests.