Victoria Stays at Current Age for Youth Crime Responsibility

Indigenous organizations, legal experts, and human rights advocates have expressed outrage following the Victorian government's decision to maintain the age of criminal responsibility at 12, abandoning plans to raise it to 14. Premier Jacinta Allan announced this significant policy shift on Tuesday, amidst revisions to the government’s extensive youth justice bill. Critics argue that this decision represents a betrayal of vulnerable children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Medical evidence suggests that children under 14 lack the maturity and cognitive ability to be held criminally responsible. Meena Singh, Victoria’s commissioner for Aboriginal children and young people, emphasized that the decision disproportionately impacts children who have faced trauma, mental health challenges, or disabilities. She called for holistic support systems to prevent criminal behavior from derailing their lives and creating further victims. Nerita Waight, chief executive of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, labeled the government's decision a "treacherous betrayal" of First Nations children, accusing the administration of succumbing to pressure from Victoria police and media outlets. Waight pointed out that youth crime rates in Victoria are currently at historic lows, questioning the rationale behind the government's stance. In addition to the age decision, the government plans to introduce a new offense for committing serious crimes while on bail, reversing a previous abolition of a similar offense. This move is expected to lead to an increase in remand custody, as officials respond to community concerns about high-end reoffending.