age of criminal responsibility

[dimpy.handa]

Children do not have the emotional maturity to be responsible in law for their actions. We all know that children cannot always make informed decisions. It is for this reason that children in many countries cannot vote or drink alcohol or consent to sex. Children have not had enough experience of life and do not yet have the same mental and emotional abilities as adults. They are often not aware of the consequences of their actions. Even where they know the difference between right and wrong, they often don't understand the difference between various levels of wrongdoing. It is therefore unfair to hold them criminally responsible for these actions.

 

[dimpy.handa]

Age of criminal responsibility
Minimum age at which children are subject to penal law in countries with 10 million or more children under 18 years old
Mexico 6-12
Bangladesh 7
India 7
Myanmar 7
Nigeria 7
Pakistan 7
South Africa 7
Sudan 7
Tanzania 7
Thailand 7
United States 7
Indonesia 8

 

[swatiraohnlu]

Children in England understand the difference between right and wrong at age 10, according to the law. Ten years old is also the age of criminal responsibility in Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.

Only Switzerland, Nigeria, South Africa, and Sri Lanka have a lower age of criminal responsibility. In Switzerland, Nigeria and South Africa it is age seven while in Sri Lanka it is 8 years of age.

Recently the Scottish Government raised the age where a child could be tried in court from 8 to 12.