GRACE POE ON MINIMUM AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

We have filed Senate Resolution 157 as early as 2016 opposing any move to lower the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) than what is stated in the current law.

Our position remains unchanged. We reiterate that lowering the MACR is anti-poor, as most children in conflict with the law come from poor families and have no meaningful access to legal services.

Holding children as young as nine years old criminally liable will not address the root causes of juvenile offenses.

If they are indeed being used by syndicates, then law enforcers should go after these syndicates victimizing the children.

Let's save the children instead of incarcerating them.(30)

ADDITIONAL STATEMENT:

By lowering the age of criminality to nine, we will be creating kindergarten prisons, and instead of rehabilitating children, these will become finishing schools for young criminals, their impressionable minds tutored by the best in the trade.

Throw these kids in a congested jail with adult criminals, and chances are they will emerge from prison and rejoin society not as reformed and skilled individuals but as bitter young men.