China has reduced the age of criminal responsibility for some serious crimes from 14 to 12, as it appears to be fighting minor crimes committed by children.
BEIJING – China has reduced the age of criminal liability for some serious crimes from 14 to 12 because it appears to be fighting minor crimes committed by children.
Under an amended law, children between the ages of 12 and 14 will be held criminally liable for “intentional homicide or intentional injury that results in death or causes other persons with severe disabilities by extremely cruel means.”
The amendment, which was adopted on Saturday by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s highest legislature, will take effect on March 1.
Those under the age of 14 who commit crimes other than those mentioned in the newly amended law will be exempt from criminal punishment, but may receive correctional education.
Currently, the age of criminal responsibility in China is 16 years, with those between 14 and 16 years old being held criminally responsible for serious crimes such as rape, robbery and premeditated murder.
The amendment to the law follows an increase in juvenile delinquency from 2018 to 2019, according to a June White Paper from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, China’s highest prosecutor’s office.
Earlier, juveniles who committed serious crimes received what appeared to be lenient punishments, provoking public outrage.
In one case, a 13-year-old man from the northern city of Dalian received only three years of correctional education after being found guilty of killing a 10-year-old girl in October 2019, prompting even tougher legislative amendments. punishments for minors who commit such crimes.