Crime
Child Justice Bill, 2023: Parents' Accountability for Underage Children's Damages Discussed in Recent Legislation Debate
The Child Justice Bill, 2023 proposes holding parents accountable for damages caused by their underage children. Minister Abrahams addresses concerns on child protection and justice legislation in the House of Assembly.
2 min read
Originally published by nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
In some cases, parents will be held accountable when their underage children cause damage under the Child Justice Bill, 2023.
That is part of the proposed legislation dealing with the protection of children and their justice that was debated in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, whose portfolio includes juvenile facility the Government Industrial School, told the House that concerns about deciding the gender of children formed a major part of the public debate on the Child Protection Bill, 2023 and the Child Justice Bill, 2023. In a first, the bills went before a Joint Select Committee (Standing) on Social Sector and the Environment with the report from the group the focus of yesterday’s sitting.
“Somewhere in here is the fact that parents, in certain circumstances, could be made liable to pay the restoration or the fine,” he said.
He explained that often when a child is seen doing “foolishness” like breaking windows, people ask where are the parents and who is going to pay for the damage. (AC)
