SA proposes joining other states in boosting age of criminal responsibility

South Australia is considering increasing its age of criminal responsibility from 10 years old to 12, the government announced today.

The proposal is part of the government's intention to decrease the 'revolving door' of criminals in the youth justice system, SA Attorney General Kyam Maher said.

"What we want to try and do is make sure children who commit these offences don't become young older children and young adults committing more serious offences," Maher said.

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If passed, children under 12 would not be held criminally responsible for offences, apart from extreme ones like murder, manslaughter and rape.

It is proposed they would instead enter an alternative diversion model that would include early intervention programs to help with rehabilitation and mediation sessions.

But advocates say governments should be focused on intervening a lot earlier in the piece.

"We're seeing lots of serious crime perpetrated by young people at the moment," victims advocate Michael said.

"Let's focus on stopping them from committing that crime in the first place rather than trying to negate their criminal responsibility."

Tasmania was the first state or territory in Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 years old, while Victoria has also committed to raising the age to 12 in 2024 and to 14 by 2027.

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The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory raised the age of criminal responsibility to 12 last year, while the ACT will raise the age to 14 in 2025.

The SA Government also announced it intends to come down harder on criminals recruiting kids to commit crimes.

Reform is proposed to laws around aiding and abetting, which will allow adults to be prosecuted as if they were the ones committing the crime when they are accessories to crimes of children.

The new offence will carry some of the toughest maximum penalties in the country.

"They could face up to 15 years for doing that, but they could alternatively face being prosecuted for the crime they get the kid to commit," Attorney General Maher said.