Research Paper for Australian Human Rights Commission (National Children's Commissioner): Effective support and early intervention approaches to offending behaviour by children and innovative international responses to serious offending by children and young people

Abstract

This literature review outlines the arguments for raising the age of criminal responsibility for children in Australia from 10 years to at least 14 years of age. It advocates for systems reform so that young offenders are diverted away from the criminal justice system. Ecological Systems Theory postulates that a child’s development involves a complex interrelated systems of social relations. Using this as a base, this review highlights how key structural drivers such as health, mental disability, family and societal factors underlie some offending behaviours.