How does lowering the age of criminal responsibility matter in China?

Abstract

With the frequent exposure of cases of vicious crimes committed by underage minors, the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) in China has been modified from 14 to 12 years old. Why is this change in law important for China today? Is it because such crimes have become more serious and need to be curbed? Or is it in line with the trend of the times? Many scholars have debated the rationality of its decline, but little empirical research has been conducted. Through in-depth interviews with eight frontline law enforcement officers, this article finds that staff in different positions have different opinions and perspectives of thinking about the issue, and discusses whether the lowering of the age of criminal liability can effectively serve as a deterrent to punishment, and whether the modifying the age of criminal liability is the outcome of populist justice, with a view to exploring its significance and importance for China.