Raise the Age

Statement on raising the age of criminal responsibility

8 May 2023

Statement on raising the age of criminal responsibility

The ACT Law Society is pleased that the ACT will soon become the first Australian jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility, keeping children out of the prison system. However, we are concerned that the proposed changes do not go far enough to bring us into line with United Nations standards.

Statement on raising the age of criminal responsibility

22 Jan 2021

Statement on raising the age of criminal responsibility

The ACT Law Society has again called attention to the need for swift action on raising the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years.

Law Society welcomes first steps towards stopping children being imprisoned

20 Aug 2020

Law Society welcomes first steps towards stopping children being imprisoned

The ACT Law Society today welcomed the Legislative Assembly's first tentative steps towards raising the age of criminal resposibility from 10 to 14 years, to keep children out of prison.

Law Society signs open letter calling on ACT Government to stop imprisoning children

23 Jul 2020

Law Society signs open letter calling on ACT Government to stop imprisoning children

The ACT Law Society has joined with a collective of service delivery, human rights, legal, and representative organisations to call on the ACT Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility in the territory.