This paper analyzes the Romanian juvenile justice system in a context of rising punitive responses to juvenile delinquency in Europe. This paper argues that compared to other European and non-European systems, in Romania, the observance of the human rights of children in conflict with criminal law has been beneficial in terms of protecting children and avoiding their over-criminalization. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes that the Romanian juvenile justice system sits at a crossroads between retribution and rehabilitation, and between the welfare tradition and neoliberal trends.