If I understand it correctly the young offenders act addresses the differences between simply knowing that an action is wrong and understanding the full consequences of that action.
A ten year old knows it's wrong to hit someone in the head with a hammer but wouldn't likely understand the mental trauma the victim goes through, the effect on the fabric of society etc etc. Apparently according to the YA act, that understanding starts in the late teens. Some say mid twenties.
However does the over-application of the YA act push up the age of responsibility?
In the good old days down on the multi-generational farm kids saw grandparents get sick and die, animals get slaughtered, crops fail and the farm lost. The school bus didn't wait for you. If you were late you walked the five miles. Tough luck but you made it for yourself.
Maybe a little less sheltering would be a good thing.
My rant of the day.
A ten year old knows it's wrong to hit someone in the head with a hammer but wouldn't likely understand the mental trauma the victim goes through, the effect on the fabric of society etc etc. Apparently according to the YA act, that understanding starts in the late teens. Some say mid twenties.
However does the over-application of the YA act push up the age of responsibility?
In the good old days down on the multi-generational farm kids saw grandparents get sick and die, animals get slaughtered, crops fail and the farm lost. The school bus didn't wait for you. If you were late you walked the five miles. Tough luck but you made it for yourself.
Maybe a little less sheltering would be a good thing.
My rant of the day.