Age of criminal responsibility 'too low', experts say

[Jazzy]

Advances in neuroscience suggest the age of criminal responsibility - 10 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - might be too low, according to a study.



The Royal Society report considers areas where recent scientific findings could have an impact on the law.



At the age of 10 parts of the brain connected with decision-making and judgement are still developing, the study says.



But it says there are limits to how the science can be used in court.



Professor Nicholas Mackintosh, who chaired the working group that compiled the study, said: There's now incontrovertible evidence that the brain continues to develop throughout adolescence.



He said some regions of the brain - including parts responsible for decision-making and impulse control - are not fully mature until at least the age of 20.



Now that clearly has some implications for how adolescents behave, he said.



The report notes the concern of some neuroscientists that the current age of criminal responsibility in the UK is set too low. In most European countries it is far higher - 18 in Belgium and 16 in Spain.



It also suggests that because of differences between individuals a cut-off age may not be justifiable.



Calls from England's children's commissioner to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 were rejected by the government in in March 2010.



Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16153045



Question: Do you think that the current age of criminal responsibility in the UK is set too low? Why or why not?

 

[The Dragon Master]

Question: Do you think that the current age of criminal responsibility in the UK is set too low? Why or why not?

No, when you're 10 you know stealing, murder, beating people up are wrong. I've heard of gangs of 10 year olds going around beating people up, in a country I can't remember, and getting off without consequences because they aren't responsible for their actions, absolute bull. They know what they did was wrong.

 

[Skillet]

I remember my sister, when she was 10, she definitely knew right and wrong. We can't use age as an excuse for murder, theft, etc. Like if it was a 5 year old stealing a chocolate bar from a store it would be different, but 10 kids know what they're doing. How it works here i I believe you are criminally responsible at 12, however anything you have done prior to being 18 gets cleaned off your slate when you turn 18. Not sure how I feel about that either though.

 

[DrLeftover]

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years,

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

 

[Fatal Dawn]

This thread reminds me of this story I read

http://jerrybrice.wo...y-and-his-life/



About a kid who killed a man outside a bar over a cell phone. Well, the law came down on him to the fullest extent and the kid is being charged for homicide as an adult.



Here's the thing. I don't believe in long sentences for children. I support anything ranging from community service to small time in juvenile detention.



The thing is at that age there is still a lot of maturing to do. Add to that the many outside pressures and influences. I just don't think a child should burn just for making a poor decision, you know I'm sure all of us have done reckless things at that age - serious or minor. Afterwords we regret it, learn our lesson, and move on. But if we don't give kids that chance we've pretty much ruined their life.

 

[Jazzy]

This thread reminds me of this story I read

http://jerrybrice.wo...y-and-his-life/



I just don't think a child should burn just for making a poor decision. if we don't give kids that chance we've pretty much ruined their life.

Wallmuth was reportedly sitting on a park bench making a call on his cell phone when he was victimized by the 15-year-old robber.The cold blooded teen killer shot James Wallmuth in the back….he never had a chance.

[font=tahoma, geneva, sans-serif]You've got to be kidding me that this kid deserves a chance. What chance did he give James when he shot and killed him over a cell phone? You take a life then you better be damned prepared for the consequences. This is not a matter of this kid making a poor decision. This is a matter of knowing exactly what he wanted and he was willing to kill for it. What has this world come to when you can get shot and killed over a freakin' cell phone.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

I don't think they should get off scott free. On the other hand it serves no one to put them away for life. They can't change their life or change the life of others .. effectively ruining any potential future they may have. Instead of being re-educated and working to redeem themselves and becoming a productive member of society they instead become another broken product of the system. Another statistic.



For the particular example. It angered me too when I first read that a kid so young committed murder. However until he reaches legal age he is still immature and should not be tried as an adult when he isn't one. This is also to prevent young people from being housed in the same prisons as adults who have been there for a long time.



I grew up just miles from Baltimore, known as probably one of the most dangerous cities in the country. When you look closer at a lot of your so called criminals - it's kids. Like Dragon Master said when you look at those street gangs you find people as young as 13. Many of them at that age don't work, they get mixed up in the wrong crowd, the schools are failing. It's a bad cycle.