Minimum age of criminal responsibility

The age below which children are not considered to have the capacity to infringe penal law.  They are therefore exempt from criminal liability and cannot be prosecuted or penalised under the criminal law. Note: Penal codes often make exceptions to the minimum age in cases of very serious crimes. Notice should be given to children under the age of minimum criminal responsibility, as the provisions for dealing with such children can be ambiguous, which can lead to abuse.  Children under the age of criminal responsibility that commit what would amount to a criminal offence if they were of sufficient age may be dealt with through a different system, including the care system, which in some cases may entail a range of compulsory measures including institutionalisation and removal from the family.