Since the early 2000’s, the juvenile criminal justice system in Turkey has been called into question. In addition to the recent developments and reforms in the process, this article suggests that the punitive features of the system stem, most of the time, from infrastructural insufficiencies. Numerous observations clearly show that the attention is often drawn to the minor’s infraction than to the minor himself. In a context where it is very difficult to proclaim the existence of a protective system associated with the ideals of the Welfare state, alternative practices are often considered as some sort of a “magic wand” that would “protect” the child. Overall, the analysis in this paper suggests that the system of criminal justice for minors is in the “restructuring” process.