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Children are the future of our society. It is saddening to see them being victimised or on the offending side. There have been a number of studies undertaken in relation to children and crime, as victims and as offenders. The results are never impressive and show that there is still much to do about children and crime. Our Criminal Lawyers have a range of experiences with children in the criminal context, as victims and as offenders. The Juvenile Criminal Lawyers at Navado Lawyers & Solicitors understand the sensitivity of such matters and have the ability to provide advice and assist professionally to ensure the needs and interests of the child are protected.   Our juvenile lawyers have appeared in Children’s Courts and represented juveniles and children in criminal matters. 

Children as offenders

In New South Wales, the minimum age for criminal responsibility is ten (10) years and the child will be considered an adult at the age of eighteen (18). Studies have shown a number of factors affecting the statistics for the number of children offenders each year including:

  • Race and ethnicity, gender and offence type;
  • Males offend at a higher rate than females;
  • Most children only offend once;
  • Most offending is of a minor nature;
  • Serious offenders tend to commit less serious offences at a higher rate; and
  • A small proportion of youth are responsible for the crimes rates in children.

The approach of the law towards children as offenders is to rehabilitate and educate the child. There are separate centres for children and these are known as juvenile detention centres.

It is also widely known that when a child offends, there are other factors that may be a reason for the child to have committed the offence:

  • Family factors including parent criminality, child abuse, family conflicts and poor relationships with siblings;
  • School factors including failing academically, school bullying and bad company; and
  • Community factors including poverty, availability of drugs and unstable neighbourhoods.

Such factors are helpful to understand the reasons behind the conduct of a child offender. When dealing with child offenders, the Court will look at the child’s background and decide on the appropriate rehabilitation or education measure. You should obtain legal advice immediately with trained Children Lawyers in Crime to protect your child’s interests.

Children as Victims

Unfortunately, children are often victims of criminal activity. When dealing with offenders in relation to children, the Courts will usually be firm in the protection of the welfare of the child or children. If your child has been involved in a matter where a person has been charged with an offence in respect of which your child is a victim, you should seek legal advice immediately.

Whether your child has been charged for an offence or has been found to be a victim of an offence, you should seek immediate legal advice. Our Criminal Lawyers are highly trained and qualified in the area of offences involving children. Contact our firm today to book a consultation on (02) 9233 4048 or send an email to info@navado.com.au.

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This webpage (and any material or wording appearing on this webpage) is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute any Legal Advice. It does not take into account your objectives, your instructions or all of the relevant facts and/or circumstances. Navado accepts no responsibility to any person who relies on the information provided on this website. We further refer you to our Disclaimer.

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