Shannon Deery: Raising age of criminal responsibility a tough balancing act for Andrews government

The Andrews government’s move to raise the age a child can be arrested to 14 is being complicated by a flood of shocking crimes involving young teens.

Victoria has experienced a string of shocking crimes involving young teens. Picture: Stock image

Raising the age of criminal responsibility will be a tough balancing act for the Andrews government.

The government has committed to raising the age a child can be arrested, charged or jailed from 10 to 12 by the end of next year.

By 2027, it will be raised again to 14.

And yet, every year hundreds of children aged 13 and under are charged with serious crimes.

Thursday’s arrest of a boy who had not long ago turned 14 over the abduction and stabbing of a Glen Eira College student is the latest shocking crime involving young teens.

The government has flagged the higher age of criminality may not apply for murder and terrorism style offences, meaning there would be some exemptions from the planned changes.

But what of serious assaults that leave victims fighting for life, sexual offending or serial repeat offending involving young teens?

The government has said it’s too early to determine exactly which serious crimes would be included in any carve out clauses.

Balancing the interests of community safety with the interests of young offenders will be key to striking the right chord with any legislative change.

It is internationally accepted that locking kids up is in many cases futile, and also heightens the risk of recidivism.

Victoria’s current regime is at odds with expert medical advice, and lags behind international standards.

But raising the age can’t be done responsibly without wholesale reform of the criminal justice system.

Supports need to be put into place to address problem behaviour before it occurs, but also to address otherwise criminal behaviour as it arises.

The government has committed to this.

But how it can strike the right balance doing this will be the challenge.