It is not uncommon for police stations to have to deal with youth criminals. Every month there are several youth crimes reported and these need to be dealt with by the authorities. The law is different for the youth and they tend to get off easy. There are several laws in place protecting young children, one such law being that children under the age of 10 cannot be held criminally responsible for a legal offence. The law is also lenient for those under the age of 14. In fact, it is not uncommon for those between the age of 10-14 to have to undergo a mental evaluation of their ability to commit the crime. This article goes on to explain how the law deals with youth criminals and the benefits of contacting the best criminal lawyers in Sydney.
How does the Law treat the Youth?
The law pertaining to child crime is quite clear in Australia. It goes like this, those below the age of 10 cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions. However, those between the age of 10 to 14 can be dealt with by the Children's Court of Australia. It is possible to convict a child between the age of 10 to 14 of a crime they commit. However, to do so one would need to have a strong case and prove beyond doubt that the child was fully aware of their actions and knew it was wrong. This is likely to involve a mental assessment as well.
At the same time, the children are given all the protection they can get in a children's court in terms of privacy and legal protection. Those below the age of 18 are usually considered minors in Australia. Thus, they receive special treatment and are only taken into custody if it is absolutely necessary. They will usually never be handcuffed with the exception of them having committed a violent crime. The added benefit being is that they cannot be questioned or drilled for information by the police in the absence of a support person or guardian.
Important Statistics and Facts
● Children between the age of 10 and 17 account for 8% of all the criminal offences in South Australia in 2019-2020. This amounted to 2782 offenders.
● 21% of all youth offenders were guilty of intending to cause injury in Tasmania (2019-2020).
● The number of offenders in 2018-19 in the Northern Territory between the ages of 10-17 was 693.
● In the ACT, 46949 youths between the age of 10 to 17 committed crimes in the year 2019-20.
● There were 17, 7170 youth offenders between 2019-2020 that amounted to 15% of the total offences in New South Wales. The most common offence was fare evasion and assault.
Benefits of contacting a criminal lawyer in Parramatta
It is necessary for the authorities to take appropriate action in the case where a crime has been committed. However, a good defence lawyer can come to your rescue and ensure the child has appropriate legal representation. At times like this, it might not be sufficient to just have the child’s guardians by their side. The smart criminal lawyers in Sydney have the expertise to get your child out of a sticky situation and avoid paying a hefty fine or being charged with a crime. Contact one of the best criminal law firms in Sydney to benefit from their extensive legal knowledge and effective legal help.
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