SAN SALVADOR — A court in El Salvador has handed down prison sentences and probation to several young individuals following their arrest last year. Three youths were sentenced to five years behind bars, while an additional five received probation after a widely circulated video surfaced on social media showing them making gang gestures within a school setting.
In the same case, seven other youths faced charges related to alleged gang affiliations but were acquitted in a ruling from the capital city. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 12 to 15 and were apprehended after a video on TikTok indicated their association with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, as reported by law enforcement.
This legal action occurs in the context of a stringent crackdown on gangs initiated by President Nayib Bukele. Following a surge in gang-related violence last year, Bukele declared a temporary state of emergency in the nation and suspended critical constitutional protections. Since that declaration, the government has detained approximately 84,000 individuals, translating to over 1% of El Salvador’s population, many of whom remain incarcerated without formal charges.
Official reports indicate that around 8,000 individuals have been released after being deemed innocent in these mass arrests. While this aggressive approach has garnered criticism for human rights violations, it has also resulted in a significant reduction in crime rates, particularly homicides, contributing to a rise in Bukele’s approval ratings.
The sentences issued on Thursday reflect the complex impact of the government’s anti-gang initiatives on youth within the country, especially those coming from impoverished communities, who have historically been vulnerable to gang influence and recruitment.
Upon their arrest, it was noted that over 1,000 youths had already received convictions with potential prison terms reaching 20 years due to gang connections. Under El Salvador’s penal code, individuals convicted of gang membership can face sentences of 20 to 40 years, while gang leaders may receive sentences of up to 60 years. Reforms introduced by Bukele in 2023 established prison terms of 10 years for children under 12 and up to 20 years for those older than 16.
In the case of the seven youths who were found not guilty, the presiding judge commented that the evidence demonstrated their lack of involvement with gangs. The outcome is seen as a pivotal case that could influence future legal proceedings involving young individuals accused of gang-related offenses.
