Should the Age of Criminal Responsibility Be Lowered?
The age of criminal responsibility in China is currently 16, with those aged between 14 and 16 facing criminal liability only if they commit serious violent offenses, such as intentional homicide, rape or robbery. China’s criminal code at present holds that no child under the age of 14 can be held criminally liable, which means that children under 14 can’t be arrested or charged with a crime.
On October 13, a draft amendment to the Criminal Law was submitted for a second review by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislature. The aim of the amendment is to better respond to serious violent offenses by minors.
The news of the age revision in the draft amendment has attracted huge attention, mostly because recent years have seen a growing number of
