Kids don’t belong in prison. This week Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury MLA is introducing a bill to the ACT Assembly to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility – making the ACT the first Australian
jurisdiction to legislate an increase to 14 years.This is a significant reform to justice in the ACT that recognises the evidence around young people who engage in anti-social behaviours. In the ACT we will seek to address the factors that cause young people to offend – like trauma, abuse, neglect or unmet health needs – and to help young people rather than criminalise them.
Incarcerating children is counterproductive to rehabilitation. By intervening early and diverting children and young people onto a healthier pathway, we can prioritise both the wellbeing of at-risk children and community safety.
Find out more → https://greens.org.au/act/news/media-release/act-raising-minimum-age-criminal-responsibility-14
