Victorian Government to Toughen Laws for Young Offenders After Charges Dropped Against Teenager
Introduction
The Victorian state government has announced plans to increase penalties for young offenders. This decision follows the dismissal of 109 charges against a 14-year-old girl because of legal rules regarding whether a child can be held criminally responsible.
Main Body
The court case ended because the prosecution could not prove that the girl understood the difference between right and wrong. Under the legal principle known as 'doli incapax', children aged 13 and under are assumed to be unable to commit crimes unless it is proven they have a mature understanding of their actions. The dropped charges involved 74 days of alleged criminal activity, including burglary, stealing cars, and targeted antisemitic harassment. Furthermore, the girl was accused of using the internet to find Jewish homes and researching legal penalties for vehicle attacks after a cyclist suffered a serious brain injury. In response, Premier Jacinta Allan's government has emphasized a shift toward stricter bail laws and the use of 'adult time' for violent crimes committed by juveniles. This change in policy comes after the government abandoned a previous plan in August 2024 to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 14. At the same time, the government has created a Violence Reduction Unit to focus on early intervention and prevent young people from committing more crimes. Opinions on this issue remain divided. Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick asserted that the outcome shows a failure in the justice system, arguing that the girl's ability to research laws proves she was capable of understanding her crimes. However, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny emphasized that the government is focusing on systemic changes to handle youth violence, although she did not announce specific changes to the 'doli incapax' rule.
Conclusion
The Victorian government is now using a two-part strategy of harsher punishments and early support to deal with youth crime and legal gaps in the system.
Learning
⚡ The "Precision Pivot": Moving from A2 to B2
At the A2 level, you likely say: "The government wants to change the laws because they are bad."
To reach B2, you need to replace vague words (bad, change, want) with Precise Academic Verbs. This article is a goldmine for this transition. Look at how the writer describes actions:
1. Instead of "Change" Use Toughen or Shift
- A2: "They want to change the laws to be harder."
- B2: "The government intends to toughen laws." (Toughen implies making something stronger or more severe).
- B2: "A shift toward stricter bail laws." (Shift describes a change in direction or policy).
2. Instead of "Say" Use Assert or Emphasize
- A2: "David Southwick said the system failed."
- B2: "David Southwick asserted that the outcome shows a failure." (Assert is used when someone speaks with confidence and authority).
- B2: "The government emphasized a shift..." (Emphasize means to give special importance to a point).
3. Instead of "Stop" Use Prevent or Intervention
- A2: "They want to stop kids from doing crimes."
- B2: "...prevent young people from committing more crimes."
- B2: "Focus on early intervention." (Intervention is a high-level noun for stepping in to help/stop a problem).
💡 The Logic Bridge: "Unless"
Notice this sentence: "...children... are assumed to be unable to commit crimes unless it is proven they have a mature understanding..."
A2 learners usually use 'if' or 'but'. B2 learners use 'unless' to create a specific condition.
The Rule: Unless = If NOT
- A2: "You cannot go inside if you don't have a ticket."
- B2: "You cannot go inside unless you have a ticket."
Try to notice this pattern: It allows you to connect two opposite ideas in one elegant sentence, which is exactly what B2 examiners look for in writing and speaking.