NEWS//Chinese 12-year-olds liable

China has passed a law that will lower the age of criminal responsibility for some serious crimes to 12. The law takes effect on March 1.

This change was fueled by a rise in serious crimes committed by adolescents and the perception that courts were giving them lenient sentences.

An example happened in the northern city of Dalian. A 13-year-old was found guilty of murdering a 10-year-old girl in October 2019. He was sentenced to three years of correctional education. 

Under the current law, the age of criminal liability is 16. Those between 14 and 16 can be held criminally responsible for crimes such as rape, robbery, and intentional homicide.

Under the new law, children aged 12 to 14 will be held criminally liable for "intentional homicide or intentional injury that leads to death or causes others severe disabilities by extremely cruel means." When children 12-14 are found guilty of crimes other than those, they will be exempt from criminal punishment; they could, however, be given correctional education.

Sources: AP News. The story was also reported by the New York Post, MSN, the Washington Times.