Prison Fellowship Welcomes Consultation

The decision of Child, Youth and Family to issue a public consultation document which includes the question of lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12, is welcomed by Kim Workman, National Director, Prison Fellowship.

"It now means that the issue can be debated outside of the context of the Young Offenders (Serious Crimes) Bill which is an extreme case of bad drafting. Ron Mark MP was poorly served by those responsible for the drafting of this bill. It is impossible to argue one way or the other about the age of criminal responsibility in the context of that bill, because it does not provide a rational context within which that debate can occur. I introduced unamended, it would undermine the operation of the Youth and Family Courts.

The CYF consultation document provides an opportunity for all New Zealanders to put forward their views as to whether the age of criminal responsibility should be lowered. It does so in the context of legislative review, and provides a rational framework within which views can be put, and considered.

It is but one of a range of issues raised in the document, and it would be unwise to consider that one question in isolation. The public will have good information on which to base its views.

It is now up to New Zealanders to access the document on the CYF website, and make their views known.

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