This Position Brief outlines why the Commissioner of Children and Young People (2019) believes that the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be increased.
The minimum age of criminal responsibility in South Australia is currently set at 10 years. This is too low and does not align with our understanding of childhood development and how best to support inclusion and healthy development of children’s complex needs.
Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility will better reflect the developmental level of children and young people and take into account what we already know about the children who are in contact with our justice system.