Submission: Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Discussion paper response

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) made a submission responding to the ACT Government’s discussion paper on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. We strongly advocate that the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in the ACT should be raised from 10 to at least 14 years old, with no exceptions or carve outs. In addition, community services working with children and families should be properly resourced to support diversion away from engagement with the justice system and help build resilience and protective factors as and before crisis arises.