In America, there are 33 states with no minimum age of criminal responsibility. In Wisconsin, ten-year-olds may be charged
AT WHAT AGE does an illegal act by a child become a crime? A grisly murder in China has brought this question to the fore. Last month a 13-year-old boy in Dalian, a city in the north-east, confessed to sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl, stabbing her to death and dumping her body on the side of the road. The boy will not spend any time behind bars, however, because under Chinese law children are not held criminally responsible for their actions until they turn 14.
Such a rule is not unusual. The United Nations recommends that countries set their minimum age of criminal responsibility no lower than 12, and encourages them to make the limit older. Many do. More than 40 countries set the cut-off at 14. A handful—including Argentina and Mozambique—draw the line at 16. Elsewhere, the minimum age is much younger. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, among others, set the MACR at seven.
Often there are calls to lower the MACR after an under-age child commits a particularly egregious offence. The recent murder in China has provoked a debate about whether exempting children from prosecution prevents justice from being done. One problem is that, in most legal systems, offenders are not criminally liable if they do not understand they have done something wrong. Determining when a child is capable of having criminal intent can be difficult.
Moreover most countries, even those with the death penalty, abide by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which forbids capital punishment or life imprisonment for under-18s. However, some countries where the death penalty for under-18s is supposedly banned, including Egypt and Iran, have been accused of carrying out executions nonetheless.
Opponents of punishing children argue that youngsters are often victims of circumstance. Many come from poor families or are manipulated or exploited by adults. Criminalising them may only compound these harms, limiting job prospects and encouraging recidivism. Critics also point out that lowering the age of responsibility may not necessarily reduce crime. After Denmark cut it from 15 to 14 in 2010, researchers found that 14-year-olds were no less likely to commit crimes.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Soundcheck: The 13 Best Music Releases Of The Week.halsey's many outfit changes were the style highlight of the MTV EMAs
Consulte Mais informação »
Soundcheck: The 13 Best Music Releases Of The WeekWith special guests Camila Cabello, Lana Del Rey, and... Kendall Jenner?
Consulte Mais informação »
The 13 Most Iconic Zac Posen Looks of All TimeReviewing the designer's most memorable red carpet looks.
Consulte Mais informação »
At least 13 killed as Iraq resumes live gunfire against protestersMore than 260 Iraqis have been killed since the start of October in demonstrations against a government they see as corrupt.
Consulte Mais informação »
13 places everyone will be flocking to for retirement in the 2020sRetirees are flocking to Alaska, Nevada, and Colorado for low costs of living, low taxes, and low healthcare costs.
Consulte Mais informação »
13-year-old murder suspect escapes from juvenile courthouse: Authorities13-year-old boy charged with two counts of first-degree murder escaped from law enforcement after a court appearance in North Carolina, officials say.
Consulte Mais informação »