Victorian inquiry recommends lifting criminal age to 14

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he will wait for recommendations from a national council of attorneys-general before changing the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria.

Reason MP Fiona Patten. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

An inquiry into Victoria’s justice system has recommended raising the minimum age of criminal ­responsibility from 10 years old to 14.

Reason MP Fiona Patten, the chair of the legal and social issues committee who handed down the report on Thursday, said she supported raising the age at which children could be put in jail to prevent them from encountering the justice system in the first place.

“Raising the legal minimum age of criminal responsibility is consistent with evidence about child development, international norms and human rights standards, and would divert children into social services rather than trapping them in the criminal justice system from an early age,” she said in a foreword.

Victorian Premier Daniel ­Andrews said he would not look to change the age of criminal ­responsibility in the state before a national council of attorneys-general considered the issue.

“It is much better if we have a national approach on this. I know the Attorney-General is committed to that, as are other attorneys-general,” he said.

The report made 100 recommendations and 73 findings. Under the reforms suggested, more accused could be released on bail, which Ms Patten said had resulted in a decrease in the number of people in jail.

As well, parole could be granted more easily after the number of serious offences committed by people when they were on parole had decreased in recent years, Ms Patton said.