In Australia, the age for sexual consent, holding a driver's license and legally consuming alcohol are all higher than the age of criminal responsibility, that is, the age at which children are held criminally responsible for their actions. In Australia, the age is 10; however, the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the rights of the Child) considers any age of criminal responsibility below 12 as unacceptable. Given this fact, is there an argument for raising the legal age of criminal responsibility?
von Louise Bonnell
1. They should know right from wrong but do they actually think through what they are about to do and the outcome of their actions beyond the here and now?
1.1. Would a child actually know right from wrong if they have never know anything different and have been brought up with criminal acts being the norm.
1.2. Stealing to feed themselves or siblings would they as a 10 year old see beyond the initial survival instinct?
2. How much is actually parental responsibility and the child being a product of their environment?
2.1. Bullying, social media, social upbringing, peer pressure.
3. Would it mean that older "age" accountable peers use the law to benefit themselves?
4. What's the age in other countries and why also how does it affect society in comparison?
5. What is the opinions of professionals working with children in these situations.
5.1. Social workers, phycologists and lawyers
6. What is the background and research that has been done so far to make the current legal age 10?
6.1. Is there any research into making the age higher?
7. Could it be done on the severity of the crime are children mature enough to understand as much as an adult or older child and is this reflected in what they have done.
8. Would making the age higher cause more repeat offenders in younger children?
9. Would the punishment fit the crime and would their maturity be taken into account as everyone matures at a different rate.
10. What sort of impact would it have on society?
10.1. Juvenile courts and detention centres
10.2. crime rates
10.3. social work, councillors
10.4. what happens to these children as they grow older, rehabilataion into society
11. What are past examples of children being convicted and how did this affect society
11.1. James Bulger case.
