AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

RAISE OF AGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

PRO		CON
→ children are too young to understand the full consequent of their actions
→ children be treated differently than adults (in Germany: until 25 juvenile justice system → max. ten years)
→ unable to control impulses → kids aren´t aware of the consequences of their doing		→ children can differentiate between bad behavior and serious wrongdoing → it`s important that the criminal law underlines the difference between right and wrong by punishing children who commit crimes → children today are physically and intellectual more advanced → puberty reached earlier → know earlier what they do
→ children are too young to face trial → enormous pressure		→ it´s necessary to show criminal children that their actions were wrong → must be punished so that they learn the true costs of their actions
→ Most countries of the world: 14 (European Union, Russia and even China), 14+ (Philippines, Czech Republic, the Baltics, Portugal) and some even 18 (Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, and Kongo)		→ if criminal sanctions were not available, children would be more likely to be used to assist older criminals → older brothers or friends would be more likely to to force children to carry weapons → punishment makes it harder for children to be involved in crimes
→ reparation and rehabilitation should be the aim; not punishment!
→ hard sentence does not have any effect (75% of delinquents in offenders institutions will commit a crime a again → movie “Spiel auf Bewährung”)		→ determent: they are less likely to commit further crimes in the future if they know that they will receive a punishment, in addition other children are less likely to commit crimes of they know a punishment will follow → education training in prison/ young offender institution gives them a chance to come back into the society one day – according to a study, 43,5 % of criminal children that were treated in a youth offender institution didn`t commit crimes again afterwards
→ Institution of youth offenders: bad conditions (violence, bullying, sexual abuse, drugs, etc...)
→ needs of children are more important than the victims feeling		→ use of therapeutic measures
→ situation in society: → kids are allowed to drink hard alcohol from the age of 18, are allowed to drive from the age of 18, can watch special movies from the age of 18, some kids in war, so why they should be punished with 12?
Mother/Father of a criminal	Social Worker	Dad of a victim	Politician