Australia's Northern Territory Lowers Age of Criminal Responsibility: Children as Young as 10 Can Be Jailed Again

Australia's Northern Territory Lowers Age of Criminal Responsibility

In a controversial move, Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) government has announced plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10, allowing children as young as this to face jail time. This decision reverses last year's increase to age 12, a change supported by calls for reform in line with international standards and UN recommendations.

The newly elected Country Liberal Party, following a campaign focused on reducing youth crime, argues that this shift is essential for public safety and will enable early intervention for young offenders. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro emphasized the need to address the root causes of youth crime, asserting that capturing young individuals in the justice system could help turn their lives around.

However, this decision has drawn significant criticism. Experts, human rights advocates, and Indigenous leaders argue that research shows incarcerating children often leads to higher recidivism rates and negatively impacts their health, education, and future opportunities. They point out that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are disproportionately affected, highlighting existing structural inequalities within the justice system.

With the NT already facing scrutiny for jailing children at a rate 11 times higher than the national average, opponents of the new law fear it will perpetuate a cycle of disadvantage, particularly for Indigenous communities. Protestors gathered outside the NT parliament during the bill debate, with messages advocating for the rights of children.

Critics also warn that this change could hinder progress in other Australian states, where there have been movements to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. While the Australian Capital Territory has already made such a change, other regions, including Victoria and Tasmania, are following suit.

As the debate continues, the NT government remains firm in its stance, claiming it has a mandate from voters to take a tough approach to youth crime, despite overwhelming evidence suggesting that effective support services would be a more beneficial investment.

Australia's Northern Territory Lowers Age of Criminal Responsibility: Children as Young as 10 Can Be Jailed Again