Petition Lower the age of criminal responsibility

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the growing concern across Victorian communities regarding severe, repeated, and violent offences committed by young offenders, including home invasions, carjackings, serious assaults, and homicides. The petitioners believe that current legislative framework limits have contributed to a perception of insufficient consequences for extreme acts of violence, compromising public safety and undermining community confidence in the justice system.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to amend section 10 of the Youth Justice Act 2024 to change the minimum age for youth offenders to be liable for any criminal offence from 12 to 10 years of age, mandate the automatic transfer of offenders aged 10 and over that are charged with extreme violence offences to the County Court of Victoria or the Supreme Court of Victoria with those offenders to be tried under adult legal frameworks, and refuse bail to youth offenders charged with murder, attempted murder, or serious violent assaults to prioritise community safety and prevent repeat offending while awaiting trial.