ATHENS – With youth violence cases spiraling in Greece – many posted on social media and revealing brutality and beatings – the New Democracy government is moving to toughen penalties, including reform schools for those over 15.

Deputy Justice Minister Ioannis Bougas outlined the measures focused on trying to stymie the growing cases, including inside and outside of schools, and which will stiffen penalties for offenders and parents and guardians in some cases.

“We must act on multiple fronts before this behavior escalates and harms society,” Bougas told public radio ERT, the move coming in the wake of a video showing a 14-year-old girl savagely beaten by a group of 25-30 others.

The reforms, he said, would amend civil law to ensure compensation for victims; and implement stricter disciplinary measures in schools for rule violations, where there also has been a ban on the use of cell phones imposed.

If passed by Parliament, the proposal would raise the minimum jail sentences for legal guardians and parents found negligent, up to a maximum of five years and fines starting at 10,000 euros ($11,070.)

Minors under 12 will not be held legally responsible, while those 12-15 could be sentenced to a reform school in the most severe cases as well as therapy if mental health issues are found in such incidents.

Minors over 15 can face criminal charges up to the misdemeanor level, with potential sentences of up to five years in a juvenile detention center. Bougas said the aim is not to instill fear, but to bring “reason to the individual minor offender.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said a new cell phone app called Safe Youth will be made available to let teens alert authorities with a panic button although some incidents shown on video show attacks so brutal it appears victims wouldn’t have time to use it.

During a Cabinet meeting he also said there would be additional reforms coming, including stricter criminal penalties for youth firearm possession and prison sentences for repeat offenders.