Teenage murder prompts debate in Thailand: Should kids face adult punishments?

A shocking murder recently committed by a group of boys aged 13 to 16 has prompted a big question in Thailand. Should children who commit serious crimes be sentenced as harshly as adult criminals?

Under current Thai law, children aged between 12 and 15 are protected from criminal punishment but can be subject to measures imposed by a court. Juvenile offenders aged 15 to 17, meanwhile, may face punishment – including time behind bars. However, they will only receive half the punishment of an adult sentenced for the same offense. If no penalty is meted out, they can still be sentenced to a period of rehabilitation.

Until 2022, all children under the age of 10 were considered too young to be held criminally liable. The age of criminal responsibility was raised that year based on medical opinion that by the age of 12, humans’ mental capacity has developed to the point where they can…