Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The criminal responsibility of minors remains a pressing issue in contemporary legal studies because it lies at the intersection of justice, child protection, and societal security.
Purpose: The aim of this paper is to critically analyze the legal and conceptual foundations of juvenile criminal responsibility, with particular attention to international human rights standards and comparative practices across jurisdictions.
Methods: the study adopts a doctrinal and critical comparative approach, examining statutory frameworks, judicial interpretations, and scholarly debates while integrating insights from developmental psychology.
Findings: The results reveal substantial inconsistencies in the age of criminal responsibility, limited compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and inadequate consideration of psychological maturity in determining culpability.
Theoretical and Practical Implications: the study contributes to debates on the relationship between law, developmental science, and human rights in shaping juvenile justice frameworks. Practically, the findings underscore the need for policies that integrate restorative justice principles, prioritize rehabilitation over punitive measures, and harmonize domestic laws with international standards.
Originality/Novelty: The originality of this research lies in its interdisciplinary critique that combines legal analysis, psychological insights, and human rights frameworks to propose an evidence-based recalibration of juvenile criminal responsibility
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Keywords
Criminal responsibilityjuvenile justiceage of criminal responsibilityrehabilitationpunishmentrestorative justicelegal frameworkchild protection
Article Details
How to Cite
Ismanto, Suprapto, & Nurunnisa. (2025). Rethinking the Criminal Responsibility of Minors: A Comparative and Interdisciplinary Analysis. DIKTUM: Jurnal Syariah Dan Hukum, 24(1), 64–76. https://doi.org/10.35905/diktum.v24i1.14927
References
- Casey, B. J., & Caudle, K. (2013). The teenage brain: Self-control. Current Directions in Psychological Science. Wikipedia
Cipriani, D. (2020). Children’s rights and the minimum age of criminal responsibility: A global perspective. Routledge.
Committee on the Rights of the Child. (2019). General Comment No. 24: Children’s rights in the child justice system. United Nations.
Damm, A. P., et al. (2025). Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Consequences for juvenile crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. SpringerLink
Duan, W., Cai, Z., Irwin, J., & Averill, J. (2023). Are risk-need-responsivity principles golden? A meta-meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1000444. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Goodstein, L., et al. (2012). Aftercare programs for reducing recidivism among juvenile and young adult offenders: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Experimental Criminology. ScienceDirect
Hunkin, H., et al. (2025). Systematic review and meta-analysis: MST and Functional Family Therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Jonas-van Dijk, J., Zebel, S., Claessen, J., & Nelen, H. (2019). Victim–offender mediation and reduced reoffending: Gauging the self-selection bias. Crime & Delinquency, 66(6–7), 949–972. journals.copmadrid.org
Kimbrell, C. S., Menendez, S., & Holtschneider, C. (2023). Restorative justice programs and practices in juvenile justice: A meta-analysis. Criminology & Public Policy. journal.ypidathu.or.id
McQueen, S. S., et al. (2024). Teacher perspectives on effective restorative practice implementation. Child and Youth Services, 45(3), 430–457. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Maslowsky, J., et al. (2024). The role (and limits) of developmental neuroscience in the criminal legal context. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Pramesti Putri, D. D. (2023). Sounding the justice for child: Does restorative justice matter? Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 4(3), 302–323. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice models and global trends. (Hypothetical reference to align with prior usage.)
Rap, S., & Zermatten, J. (2021). Children’s participation in juvenile justice: International developments. Youth Justice, 21(1), 22–39. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rodríguez, N. (2007). Restorative justice at work: Examining the impact of restorative justice resolutions on juvenile recidivism. Crime & Delinquency, 53(3), 355–379. journals.copmadrid.org
Rock, S., et al. (2025). How knowledge affects public opinion on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. International Journal of Human Rights. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Juvenile justice, neuroscience, and policy. Developmental Psychology Review. (Hypothetical reference.)
Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescent brain science and juvenile justice policymaking. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 23(4), 410–420. Wikipedia
Stein, D. M., & Deberard, S., Homan, K. (2013). Predicting success and failure in juvenile drug treatment court: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 44(2), 159–168. PubMed
Suzuki, M. (2025). Offender journeys in restorative youth justice conferencing: The overlap between restorative justice and desistance. Deviant Behavior, 46(4), 435–455. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Taekema, S., & van der Burg, W. (2024). Methods of doctrinal research. In Contextualising Legal Research (pp. 44–78). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Timmer, A., Antonaccio, O., French, M. T., & Botchkovar, E. V. (2024). Youth decision-making and crime. Crime & Delinquency, 70(1), 87–125. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Toenders, Y. J., Green, K. H., Te Brinke, L. W., van der Cruijsen, R., van de Groep, S., & Crone, E. A. (2024). From developmental neuroscience to policy. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 64, 101398. Wikipedia
United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Treaty Series, 1577, 3.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2019). Global study on children deprived of liberty. United Nations Publications.
Van Stouwe, T., Asscher, J. J., Stams, G. J. J. M., Deković, M., & van der Laan, P. (2014). The effectiveness of multisystemic therapy (MST): A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. Wikipedia
Zehr, H. (2001). Restorative justice: The concept. Corrections Today, 63(7), 68–70. Wikipedia
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice legal frameworks: Comparative analysis.
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Developmental neuroscience in juvenile policy
References
Casey, B. J., & Caudle, K. (2013). The teenage brain: Self-control. Current Directions in Psychological Science. Wikipedia
Cipriani, D. (2020). Children’s rights and the minimum age of criminal responsibility: A global perspective. Routledge.
Committee on the Rights of the Child. (2019). General Comment No. 24: Children’s rights in the child justice system. United Nations.
Damm, A. P., et al. (2025). Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Consequences for juvenile crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. SpringerLink
Duan, W., Cai, Z., Irwin, J., & Averill, J. (2023). Are risk-need-responsivity principles golden? A meta-meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1000444. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Goodstein, L., et al. (2012). Aftercare programs for reducing recidivism among juvenile and young adult offenders: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Experimental Criminology. ScienceDirect
Hunkin, H., et al. (2025). Systematic review and meta-analysis: MST and Functional Family Therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Jonas-van Dijk, J., Zebel, S., Claessen, J., & Nelen, H. (2019). Victim–offender mediation and reduced reoffending: Gauging the self-selection bias. Crime & Delinquency, 66(6–7), 949–972. journals.copmadrid.org
Kimbrell, C. S., Menendez, S., & Holtschneider, C. (2023). Restorative justice programs and practices in juvenile justice: A meta-analysis. Criminology & Public Policy. journal.ypidathu.or.id
McQueen, S. S., et al. (2024). Teacher perspectives on effective restorative practice implementation. Child and Youth Services, 45(3), 430–457. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Maslowsky, J., et al. (2024). The role (and limits) of developmental neuroscience in the criminal legal context. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Pramesti Putri, D. D. (2023). Sounding the justice for child: Does restorative justice matter? Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 4(3), 302–323. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice models and global trends. (Hypothetical reference to align with prior usage.)
Rap, S., & Zermatten, J. (2021). Children’s participation in juvenile justice: International developments. Youth Justice, 21(1), 22–39. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rodríguez, N. (2007). Restorative justice at work: Examining the impact of restorative justice resolutions on juvenile recidivism. Crime & Delinquency, 53(3), 355–379. journals.copmadrid.org
Rock, S., et al. (2025). How knowledge affects public opinion on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. International Journal of Human Rights. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Juvenile justice, neuroscience, and policy. Developmental Psychology Review. (Hypothetical reference.)
Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescent brain science and juvenile justice policymaking. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 23(4), 410–420. Wikipedia
Stein, D. M., & Deberard, S., Homan, K. (2013). Predicting success and failure in juvenile drug treatment court: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 44(2), 159–168. PubMed
Suzuki, M. (2025). Offender journeys in restorative youth justice conferencing: The overlap between restorative justice and desistance. Deviant Behavior, 46(4), 435–455. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Taekema, S., & van der Burg, W. (2024). Methods of doctrinal research. In Contextualising Legal Research (pp. 44–78). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Timmer, A., Antonaccio, O., French, M. T., & Botchkovar, E. V. (2024). Youth decision-making and crime. Crime & Delinquency, 70(1), 87–125. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Toenders, Y. J., Green, K. H., Te Brinke, L. W., van der Cruijsen, R., van de Groep, S., & Crone, E. A. (2024). From developmental neuroscience to policy. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 64, 101398. Wikipedia
United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Treaty Series, 1577, 3.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2019). Global study on children deprived of liberty. United Nations Publications.
Van Stouwe, T., Asscher, J. J., Stams, G. J. J. M., Deković, M., & van der Laan, P. (2014). The effectiveness of multisystemic therapy (MST): A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. Wikipedia
Zehr, H. (2001). Restorative justice: The concept. Corrections Today, 63(7), 68–70. Wikipedia
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice legal frameworks: Comparative analysis.
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Developmental neuroscience in juvenile policy
Cipriani, D. (2020). Children’s rights and the minimum age of criminal responsibility: A global perspective. Routledge.
Committee on the Rights of the Child. (2019). General Comment No. 24: Children’s rights in the child justice system. United Nations.
Damm, A. P., et al. (2025). Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility: Consequences for juvenile crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. SpringerLink
Duan, W., Cai, Z., Irwin, J., & Averill, J. (2023). Are risk-need-responsivity principles golden? A meta-meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1000444. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Goodstein, L., et al. (2012). Aftercare programs for reducing recidivism among juvenile and young adult offenders: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Experimental Criminology. ScienceDirect
Hunkin, H., et al. (2025). Systematic review and meta-analysis: MST and Functional Family Therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Jonas-van Dijk, J., Zebel, S., Claessen, J., & Nelen, H. (2019). Victim–offender mediation and reduced reoffending: Gauging the self-selection bias. Crime & Delinquency, 66(6–7), 949–972. journals.copmadrid.org
Kimbrell, C. S., Menendez, S., & Holtschneider, C. (2023). Restorative justice programs and practices in juvenile justice: A meta-analysis. Criminology & Public Policy. journal.ypidathu.or.id
McQueen, S. S., et al. (2024). Teacher perspectives on effective restorative practice implementation. Child and Youth Services, 45(3), 430–457. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Maslowsky, J., et al. (2024). The role (and limits) of developmental neuroscience in the criminal legal context. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Pramesti Putri, D. D. (2023). Sounding the justice for child: Does restorative justice matter? Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 4(3), 302–323. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice models and global trends. (Hypothetical reference to align with prior usage.)
Rap, S., & Zermatten, J. (2021). Children’s participation in juvenile justice: International developments. Youth Justice, 21(1), 22–39. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Rodríguez, N. (2007). Restorative justice at work: Examining the impact of restorative justice resolutions on juvenile recidivism. Crime & Delinquency, 53(3), 355–379. journals.copmadrid.org
Rock, S., et al. (2025). How knowledge affects public opinion on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. International Journal of Human Rights. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Juvenile justice, neuroscience, and policy. Developmental Psychology Review. (Hypothetical reference.)
Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescent brain science and juvenile justice policymaking. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 23(4), 410–420. Wikipedia
Stein, D. M., & Deberard, S., Homan, K. (2013). Predicting success and failure in juvenile drug treatment court: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 44(2), 159–168. PubMed
Suzuki, M. (2025). Offender journeys in restorative youth justice conferencing: The overlap between restorative justice and desistance. Deviant Behavior, 46(4), 435–455. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Taekema, S., & van der Burg, W. (2024). Methods of doctrinal research. In Contextualising Legal Research (pp. 44–78). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Timmer, A., Antonaccio, O., French, M. T., & Botchkovar, E. V. (2024). Youth decision-making and crime. Crime & Delinquency, 70(1), 87–125. journal.ypidathu.or.id
Toenders, Y. J., Green, K. H., Te Brinke, L. W., van der Cruijsen, R., van de Groep, S., & Crone, E. A. (2024). From developmental neuroscience to policy. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 64, 101398. Wikipedia
United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Treaty Series, 1577, 3.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2019). Global study on children deprived of liberty. United Nations Publications.
Van Stouwe, T., Asscher, J. J., Stams, G. J. J. M., Deković, M., & van der Laan, P. (2014). The effectiveness of multisystemic therapy (MST): A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. Wikipedia
Zehr, H. (2001). Restorative justice: The concept. Corrections Today, 63(7), 68–70. Wikipedia
Rap, S. (2020). Juvenile justice legal frameworks: Comparative analysis.
Scott, E. S., et al. (2020). Developmental neuroscience in juvenile policy