Pangasinan State University

College of Criminology
Binmaley, Pangasinan

PERSPECTIVE ANALYSIS ON LOWERING THE AGE OF CRIMINAL

RESPONSIBILITY IN PANGASINAN

A Thesis

Presented to the

Faculty Members of the

College of Criminal Justice Education

Pangasinan State University

Binmaley Campus

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirement for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Criminology

Delacruz, Everly G.

Fernandez, John Dominic M.

Alferos, Ginly T.

Nava, Regine M.

2024

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College of Criminology
Binmaley, Pangasinan

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

RATIONALE

One of the most difficult parts of the juvenile justice

system is to decide on appropriate legal actions for
juvenile offenses while safeguarding their rights and
prioritizing their best interests. Considering the ongoing
discourse on whether or not the age of criminal
responsibility should be lowered remains a highly
controversial issue, as it has extensive implications not
only for the child itself but also for their parents, the
community, and the nation as a whole. This issue poses a
challenge in ensuring the control of criminality, protecting
children from exploitation, and at the same time ensuring
the welfare of the child. Any proposal on whether to lower
the age of criminal responsibility has a major impact on the
best interests of the child.

Juvenile delinquency is becoming more serious, and the

crime rate of juvenile delinquency in other countries in the
world is also on the rise. From a global perspective, the
determination of criminal responsibility for children is
extremely influenced by different cultural norms, legal
traditions, and historical practices. Addressing this issue
requires a precise approach that considers the
vulnerabilities of children, the role of rehabilitation, and
the broader implications for society.

The common age set for criminal responsibility may

differ significantly worldwide, ranging from as low as 7
years old in countries like Singapore to as high as 18 in
many European countries, such as France and Germany (Aleta
Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBN News, 2024).

In the study of Hao Li in China, regarding the

reflections on lowering the age of criminal responsibility
from 14 to 12, she introduced the origin of the issue
wherein, in recent years, violent incidents involving minors
have become increasingly common, drawing significant public
attention. Between 2017 and 2020, several shocking cases
were reported, including a 13-year-old boy killing a 73-
year-old woman in Longhui, Hunan; a 12-year-old boy
murdering his mother in Yuanjiang, Hunan; a 13-year-old boy
killing a 10-year-old girl in Dalian; and a 12-year-old boy

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killing his 10-year-old cousin in Anhui. Judicial reports,

such as the Juvenile Delinquency Special Report of Judicial
Big Data (2017), the White Paper on Prosecutorial Work of
Minors (2021), and the Report on the Prosecutorial Work of
Minors (2022), indicate a rise in juvenile delinquency from
2015 to 2021. Juvenile offenders represent a significant
proportion of all criminals, with younger minors
increasingly involved in severe crimes like intentional
homicide and grievous bodily harm. These acts have led to
widespread societal concern, underscoring the urgent need
for effective measures to address juvenile crime
(“Reflections on Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal
Responsibility: With Comments to Article 1 of the Amendment
to Criminal Law (XI),” 2023).

Similarly, in South Korea, a rising public demand for

justice reform has led to an attempt to lower the age of
criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. On June 8, 2022,
Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon ordered the Ministry of
Justice to work with lawmakers and government authorities,
such as the Ministry of Education, to revise the juvenile
laws. The proposal aims to address the rising juvenile crime
rates by enforcing stricter standards. The ministry
suggested enabling police superintendents to directly refer
cases involving criminal minors to competent courts and
expanding the use of juvenile detention systems to ensure
proper legal oversight. President Yoon's initiative stems
from a notable increase in juvenile crimes. In 2021, 8,374
offenses were committed by minors, marking a 34.8% rise from
2017. Between 2017 and 2021, 35,390 teenagers under the age
of 14 were implicated in violent crimes, including 10,199
cases of battery, 1,913 sex crimes, 47 robberies, and 9
murders. Representative Kim Hoi-jae emphasized that juvenile
crimes have become increasingly violent, highlighting the
need to lower the age of criminal liability. Public outrage
over past cases, such as a 2018 incident where two 13-year-
old boys raped a middle school girl who later died by
suicide, further underscores the urgency of reform. Due to
their age, the offenders were tried under the Juvenile Act,
avoiding criminal punishment and sparking widespread
indignation. A petition advocating stricter punitive
measures for minors garnered over 230,000 signatures. Data
from the Ministry of Justice reveals a juvenile reoffending
rate of 12% in 2021, significantly higher than the 4.5% for
adults. Lowering the age of criminal liability is seen as a
potential way to reduce reoffending rates and align South

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Korea with global standards. For instance, France sets the

age of criminal responsibility at 13, the UK at 10, and the
U.S. at 11 for federal crimes, with some states allowing
punitive actions against minors regardless of age. Lowering
South Korea's age of criminal responsibility to 12 would
place it in line with other developed nations (Lowering the
Age of Criminal Responsibility, 2022).

In the same way, during the reign of former President

Rodrigo Duterte, the issue of lowering the age of criminal
responsibility in the Philippines gained significant
attention. Some politicians led by former President Duterte
proposed a bill regarding lowering the age of criminal
responsibility from 15 to 9 years old for two reasons:
school-age thieves and drug runners must be "taught
responsibly" and the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law is
"soft" in dealing with children in conflict with the law
(CICL) (“On Lowering the Age of Criminal Responsibility:
Perspective From Philippine Local Government Officials,”
2020). Former president Duterte even stated that "Filipino
youth should accept the responsibility for their actions and
be subjected to government intervention programs," the
Manila Times reported. Also, the presidential spokesperson
Salvador Panelo said, "If you have a law that will
criminalize this particular age bracket, they will no longer
be used by criminals. They are using them now because they
will be freed; they can get out.". In addition, on January
28, 2019, the House of Representatives approved, on the
third and final reading, a bill that would lower the age of
criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old. Their
reasons include: Younger children are being exploited by
criminal syndicates because they cannot be held legally
accountable. Lowering the age would discourage this
practice; to protect communities and ensure justice (Vera
Files, 2019). Lastly, a child who commits serious crimes
must be accountable for his or her actions (Mullen, 2020).

In addition, as the issue of lowering the age of

criminal responsibility arose around 2016, during the
election campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte,
different perspectives and discussions of lawmakers, human
rights advocates, educators, and the general public also
emerged. Some were part of the proponents, just like the
former Senate President Vicente Sotto III. He noted that the
current age of criminal responsibility is higher than in
some other international countries, where the average age of

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criminal responsibility is 11 in Asia and Africa and 13 in

the U.S. and Europe. The proposed amendment aims to address
challenges in implementing RA 9344 and hold minors
criminally liable for serious offenses such as murder,
parricide, homicide, and infanticide, provided they acted
with discernment. Under the bill, for serious crimes such as
parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping, and homicide, if
the children who committed these are above nine years old up
to 12 years old, they shall be deemed neglected children
under Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare
Code, as amended. They shall be placed in a special facility
within the youth care faculty or Bahay Pag-asa. (Sotto,
n.d.)

Currently, the Juvenile Justice System of the

Philippines follows the law, which is Republic Act No. 9344,
also known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
The minimum age of criminal responsibility is 15 years old.
Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act
of 2006, stipulates that the imprisonment of young people
below 18 is an illegal act. Instead, it mandates that
children in conflict with the law (CICL) be required to
undergo a holistic intervention program for the purpose of
rehabilitation (R.A. 9344, n.d.).

This study will highlight the perspective of

individuals in Pangasinan who have raised concerns about the
rising number of children in conflict with the law (CICL) in
the province. From 232 cases in 2016, the figure rose to 260
in 2017 and 265 in 2018, excluding unreported incidents.
Common offenses include petty theft and rape. Rape cases
involving minors as offenders numbered 85 in 2016, 75 in
2017, and 80 in 2018, while theft cases were 44, 33, and 36
for the same years, respectively. Children in conflict with
the law involved in illegal drugs decreased from 16 in 2016
to 10 in 2017 but surged to 28 in 2018. Most offenders were
aged 13 to 15, with some as young as 6 to 12. (Police
Alarmed Over Rising Juvenile Delinquents in Pangasinan,
n.d.)

While, according to the data collected by the

researchers from the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office,
juvenile cases decreased from 130 in 2022 and rose again
from 144 in 2023. This number still shows concern regarding
juvenile delinquent issues.

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This study seeks to contribute to the discussions of

issues regarding lowering the age of criminal responsibility
by exploring the perceptions of individuals in Pangasinan, a
province, who have also raised a concern about the
involvement of youth in juvenile delinquent acts. This study
aims to understand how different individuals in the province
perceived the issue, and how the demographic profile of an
individual may influence their opinions regarding the issue.
Furthermore, the researchers will also assess the extent of
public support for lowering the age of criminal
responsibility. Moreover, the researchers will examine the
perceived impacts on crime rates, societal impact, crime
prevention, and safety, as well as the appropriate age for
criminal responsibility, from the individual’s perspective.
The study aims to highlight the broader consequences of the
policy beyond the immediate legal framework.

This study will delve into the perspectives of

individuals from various sectors, offering a refined view of
how different groups within society perceive the issue.
These insights of different individuals will not only help
to understand the majority opinion but will also open the
eyes of the public to the reasons behind these perspectives,
unveiling underlying moral, cultural, and practical
considerations. This study will also serve as the foundation
for making and implementing policies regarding juveniles
where public opinion is being considered and public concerns
are being heard.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The major concept of this study is focused on analyzing

the perceptions of different individuals in lowering the age
of criminal responsibility.
The Philippines is currently facing an increasing
number of crimes, particularly a rise in cases of juvenile
delinquency. In response to it, the government has
implemented various measures; one of them is passing House
Bill (HB) 8858, also known as "An Act Expanding the Scope of
the Reformation and Rehabilitation of Children in Conflict
with the Law and Strengthening the Social Reintegration
Programs," which amends Republic Act No. 9344, also known as
the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.” This bill
seeks to enhance the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System and
improve programs related to the social reintegration of
juvenile delinquents. If enacted, it would lower the Minimum

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Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) in the Philippines

from fifteen to twelve years old.
House Bill (HB) 8858 initially proposed lowering the
Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) to 9 years
old. However, due to strong opposition from lawmakers and
child rights advocates, the MACR was raised to 12 years old
in the revised version. Additionally, the term "criminal
responsibility" was replaced with "social responsibility"
throughout the bill, although its core objective remained
unchanged. Under the proposal, children aged 12 to 18 who
commit serious offenses would be placed in Intensive
Juvenile Intervention and Support Centers in youth care
facilities, known as Bahay Pag-Asa (Morano et al., 2021).
Supporters of House Bill 8858 argue that lowering the
Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) to 12 is a
potential solution to the country's crime problems. They
believe that children aged 12 and above can distinguish
right from wrong and that such a measure could instill
discipline among young offenders. Additionally, proponents
claim that this change could help to solve issues like child
involvement in drug trafficking. However, the bill has faced
strong opposition both domestically and internationally.
Critics argue that it violates key human rights laws,
including the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
Organizations such as UNICEF, the Philippines Child Rights
Network, and Philippine Action for Youth have condemned the
bill, pointing out that the Philippines is a signatory to
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child,
which emphasizes the importance of prioritizing child
welfare over punitive actions (Amnesty International, 2023.
The conceptual framework indicated the elements where
the input leads to the process, which leads to the output,
which in turn leads to the outcome.
The table 1 provided the inputs to be used in the study
such as the profile of the respondents and their social
roles. The inputs will be processed by the implementation of
survey questionnaire. Thus, this would measure the output of
this study, which is the perspective of different
individuals in lowering the age of criminal responsibility.
Also, the output will determine the opinion of different
individuals regarding the issue.
Through the incorporation of these factors, the
framework seeks to offer a careful comprehension of public
opinion regarding this matter, emphasizing the factors that
impact opinions and recognizing the possible societal result
of reducing the criminal liability age.

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PARADIGM OF THE STUDY

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. What is the
demographic profile of Conduct a survey
the respondents in terms questionnaire in the Identify the
of; following groups: demographic profile of
a. Age a. Religious Sector the respondents.
b. Gender b. Educational Sector
c. Social roles c. Law Enforcement
Sector
2. To what extent do d. Government Officials
respondents support or e. Parents
oppose the lowering the f. Local Government Determine a data on a
age of criminal Unit public perception
responsibility?
g. Non-government
Organizations
3. How do respondents
h. Business Sector
rate the potential impact
of lowering the age of i. Ordinary Citizen
criminal responsibility Determine the public
on: opinion regarding the
a. Crime rates lowering the age of
b. Societal impact criminal responsibility.
c. Crime prevention and
safety Data Gathering via
survey questionnaire.
4. What minimum age
of criminal
responsibility do the Determine a
respondents believe is recommendations that
appropriate? would help to combat
a. 9 years old the rising number of
b. 12 years old Data Analysis juvenile delinquency.
c. 15 years old or older

FEEDBACKS
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study aims to determine the perception of individuals in Pangasinan on lowering the
age of criminal responsibility.

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Specifically, this study attempted to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of;

a) Age
b) Gender
c) Social roles

2. To what extent do respondents support or oppose the lowering the age of criminal
responsibility?

3. How do respondents rate the potential impact of lowering the age of criminal
responsibility on:
a) Crime rates
b) Societal impact
c) Crime prevention and safety

4. What minimum age of criminal responsibility do the respondents believe is

appropriate?

a) 9 years old
b) 12 years old
c) 15 years old or older

ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

1. It is assumed that the perceptions of individuals

regarding the appropriate minimum age for criminal
responsibility vary based on their demographic profiles
(e.g., age, gender, and social roles).

2. It is assumed that all participants will answer the

survey questions truthfully and to the best of their
ability. Their responses are expected to reflect their
genuine opinions, experiences, or behaviors, as this is
crucial for ensuring the reliability of the findings.

3. The survey questions are designed to directly align

with the research objectives. It is assumed that these
questions effectively capture the data needed to
address the research problem, providing insights that
are both relevant and meaningful.

4. It is assumed that the chosen participants adequately

represent the larger population being studied. Their
responses will provide a reliable basis for drawing

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conclusions and generalizing the findings to similar

groups.

5. It is assumed that respondents perceive a connection

between lowering the age of criminal responsibility and
its broader effects on crime rates, societal dynamics,
and public safety.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Age Of Criminal Responsibility - age at which a person can

be charged with a criminal offence and processed within the
criminal justice system.

Child In Conflict With Law - a child who at the time of the

commission of the offense is below eighteen years old but
not less than fifteen (15) years and one (1) day old.

Crime Rates - A crime rate is a measurement of the number of

crimes committed by juveniles reported to law enforcement
agencies in a specific area over a specific time period.

Crime Prevention - The strategies, measures, and efforts

aimed at reducing the occurrence of criminal activities. In
this study, crime prevention relates to how respondents
perceive the impact of lowering the age of criminal
responsibility on deterring or mitigating criminal behaviour
among minors.

Crime Prevention and Safety - A combined focus on reducing

crime and ensuring the well-being and security of the
community. This term, as used in the study, represents the
respondents' assessment of how changes in the minimum age of
criminal responsibility could influence both public safety
and the effectiveness of measures to prevent youth crimes.

Juvenile Delinquency - a legal term that is used to define a

minor who commits an offence that would be considered a
crime if committed by an adult.

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Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility - the lowest age at

which a person can be legally held accountable for a crime.

Safety - The condition of being protected from harm or

danger. In the context of this study, safety refers to the
respondents' views on whether lowering the age of criminal
responsibility contributes to a safer community by
addressing youth-related crimes.

Social Roles - refers to the responsibilities, behaviours,

and expectations associated with an individual's position in
society, such as being a parent, student, teacher, or
leader. In the context of this study, social roles may
influence the respondents' perceptions of criminal
responsibility based on their societal experiences and
perspectives.

Societal Impact - the effect of actions, events, or

inventions on people, communities, and the environment.

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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter will present a summary of selected

studies and literature that are relevant to the present
study. The related studies and literature will contribute to
the information and background, directly and indirectly, to
the present study.

Conceptual Literature

The age of criminal responsibility refers to the age of

a child wherein he or she can be considered criminally
liable for the crime committed. The age defined in this case
refers to a point in life of an individual where he or she
is presumed to be capable of committing an offense and is
therefore liable to be tried in a criminal court (Age of
Criminal Responsibility | Definition, 2024). The idea of
criminal liability is significant in this context and
affects not only the children who happen to find themselves
in the course of criminal proceedings but also the society
where these children are living.

According to Wong (2023), in China’s Criminal Law, a

recent amendment to lower the age of criminal responsibility
for two specified crimes to twelve years became effective in
2021. At certain ages, for example between twelve and 15
years, inevitably there will be some children who have
developed sufficient maturity to appreciate the wrongfulness
of their actions and the ability to exercise self-control,
while others at the same age do not. In other words, even at
the same age, due to developmental differences, some
children should be regarded as criminally culpable while
others should not. Rather than insisting on maintaining or
raising the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility, it is
proposed that setting a unified minimum age of criminal
responsibility (MACR) at twelve years can be justified on
the grounds of protecting the public if (and only if) the
principle of “protecting the innocent and punishing the
guilty” could be ensured. To achieve this, (i) the common
law principle of doli incapax; (ii) the child immaturity
defense; and (iii) prosecutorial discretion and diversions
should be adopted as safeguards to protect children. These
safeguards could protect children who do not recognize the
wrongfulness of their actions and who cannot control
themselves at the time of the act free from criminal

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sanctions. It is also expected that most children would be

referred to diversion measures, and prosecution will be
reserved for most serious cases. As for children who are
held liable, a rehabilitative and reintegrative approach
should be promoted, and the sentencing imposed should be in
the children’s best interests. To achieve this, various
sentencing options should be introduced in China. With these
proposals, it is hoped that individual developmental
differences between children are recognized and the
principles of “education, reformation, and rescuing” could
be further promoted.

According to Jazeera (2019), a moving proposal from the

Far East country about lowering the age of criminal
liability from fifteen (15) to nine (9) years old raised
major disapproval among organizations relating to human
rights together with lawmakers. As stated above, it may hurt
the children further, as indicated on the said bill. Doy
Leach, the chairman of the House Justice Committee, depended
on his proposal by citing recent reports of increasing the
number of criminal syndicates using minors to commit
criminal acts. Children would not be jailed but would
instead undergo "reformation, confinement, and
rehabilitation" in reformative institutions. Upon the
commission of the offense, it will be exempted from criminal
liability unless he has acted with discernment where the
child is subjected to appropriate proceedings. The crimes
that will be covered are murder, parricide, infanticide,
serious illegal detention, carjacking, and violation of the
dangerous drugs act under the bills.

There are already pending bills in the House of

Representatives that intend to amend the Juvenile Justice
and Welfare Act of 2006, or Republic Act 9344, and this
includes the call to lower the age of criminal
responsibility to 12 years old and even down to nine years
old. Pending bills in the Lower House propose to expand the
extent of reformations and rehabilitations of children in
conflict with the law and enhance social reintegration
programs under Republic Act No. 9344. These are House Bills
864, 1376, 3127, and 6512. Among those authors of the said
House measures are Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Rep.
Ferdinand Hernandez, Capiz Rep. Fredenil “Fred” Castro,
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador “Doy” Leachon, and Parañaque
Rep. Eric Olivarez, in that order. The said House bills,
except the Olivarez bill, place the minimum age of criminal

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responsibility at the time of the commission of offense at

12 years old. The Olivarez bill places the minimum age of
criminal responsibility at nine years old. The RA 9344 sets
an age of criminal liability at 15 years old. That is,
detainees within ages 15 to 18 may be rehabilitated and
detained in a youth center. Ages below 15, on the other
hand, are exempted for criminal liability and intervention
alone. Hernandez explained in a note accompanying House Bill
864: “Children 12 years and below have been a prey of
different syndicates wherein their immunity from criminal
liability has been used as an alibi or cover for certain
crimes. This measure therefore protects children 12 years
and below against unscrupulous syndicates exploiting them
for such nefarious activity.”. According to it, children who
committed crimes will be discharged and will be confined in
the youth care facilities of Bahay Pag-asa, also known as
the Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center.
However, lawmakers from both houses of Congress and cause-
oriented groups have already voiced out their opposition to
the said move of lowering the minimum age of criminal
liability from 15 to 12 years old and below. According to
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, principal author of RA
9344, the problem starts with the bad implementation of the
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act. He said the law was
already passed, and it was already there to be implemented.
While Solon from “makabayan” bloc, submitted a House
resolution stating lowering the age of criminal liability to
12 years and below was a mistake attempt to grapple with
criminality. For its part, the Catholic Bishops' Conference
of the Philippines also appealed to the Congress not to
tamper with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, especially
concerning the age of criminal responsibility provision.
(House Bills Lowering Criminal Responsibility to 12 Years
Old Backed and Opposed, 2021).

Research Literature

The issue of the minimum age of criminal responsibility

has remained unresolved globally due to the annual rise in
juvenile delinquency and peer violence. States around the
world, as well as in smaller geographically adjacent
regions, have been coming up with different criminal law
answers to this question. Economic, social, cultural,
religious, political, and even political circumstances are
the causes of this diversity. The so-called repressive and
holistic concepts are two diametrically opposed ideas in

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theory and practice. The first concept's proponents contend

that the safest approach to reducing juvenile and child
criminality is to implement a strict criminal policy.
However, proponents of the holistic approach contend that
since young children are unable to comprehend the
consequences of their actions, lowering the criminal
responsibility age would expose them to the criminal justice
system before society has had a chance to take prompt action
to stop them from developing a criminal pattern of behavior.
The end effect is a deeply held conviction that the strategy
that views the children and minors who are drawn into the
criminal environment as part of the solution rather than the
problem must be given preference (Minimum Age of Criminal
Responsibility as Part of Criminal Policies, 2022).

As stated by Ycoadmin (2020), there have been popular

calls to reduce Canada's age of criminal culpability from 12
to 10 years old following the death of 6-year-old Lee
Bonneau in 2013. Experts refute this, citing developmental
neuroscience evidence indicating children's brains are still
immature and lack the capacity for complete impulse control
and decision-making. Lowering the age of criminal
responsibility would be an unwise move because juvenile
offenders frequently originate from difficult homes and
require rehabilitation and intervention rather than
punishment. To address the underlying causes of juvenile
delinquency and guide them toward healthier development,
efforts should be concentrated on prevention, early
intervention, and restorative justice of juvenile
delinquency.

On the other hand, there is a persistent movement in

some Australian states to increase the legal age of criminal
liability. Most Australian jurisdictions currently set the
age at 10, which is among the lowest in the world. This is
far too young, according to the Australian Medical
Association and legal experts, as youngsters that age do not
have the developmental potential to understand the
implications of their acts fully. They support increasing
the age to at least 14 by global guidelines. Native American
communities in particular have drawn attention to the ways
that the existing system disproportionately impacts Native
American adolescents, fueling high imprisonment rates and
sustaining cycles of poverty and disadvantage. While many
European countries advocate for a child-centered approach
that places more emphasis on rehabilitation than punishment

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for young offenders. For example, social services and

education are prioritized over incarceration in Sweden,
where the legal age of majority for offenses is 15. Lowering
the age of criminal responsibility would contradict this
notion. Examples are countries like Norway and Finland,
whose ages of criminal responsibility are similar, which
prioritize addressing the underlying reasons for adolescent
misbehavior, which include maltreatment, poverty, and mental
health concerns. Member states have been asked time and time
again to prioritize rehabilitation and the best interests of
the child by the Council of Europe and other European human
rights organizations.(Australian Medical Association, 2020).

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CHAPTER III
RESEARCH DESIGN

Research Method

The research employed a quantitative approach to

investigate the perceptions of specific individuals
regarding the lowering of the age of criminal
responsibility. This method was chosen for its ability to
quantify opinions and attitudes, enabling the researchers to
draw statistically significant conclusions about the
prevailing perspectives on the issue.
The study utilized a survey questionnaire as the
primary research instrument to collect data. The
questionnaire was designed to gather responses from
participants on various aspects of the topic, including
their level of agreement or disagreement with the proposed
policy, their understanding of its implications, and the
factors influencing their views. The survey included both
closed-ended and Likert-scale questions, ensuring that the
data collected was structured and measurable.
The target population consisted of individuals who hold
diverse opinions on the subject, including members of the
religious sector, law enforcement sector, educational
sector, government officials, parents, local government
units, non-government organizations, business sectors, and
ordinary citizens. Participants were selected through a
purposive sampling technique to ensure the inclusion of
respondents with relevant insights and backgrounds. A
sufficient sample size was determined to enhance the
reliability and generalizability of the findings.
The quantitative data obtained from the survey were
analyzed using statistical methods. Descriptive statistics,
such as frequencies, percentages, and means, were used to
summarize the responses. Furthermore, inferential statistics
were applied to identify patterns, relationships, and
differences among the studied variables. By utilizing this
method, the study aimed to present an objective and
evidence-based understanding of public perceptions regarding
the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility.

Locale of the Study

The study will be conducted in the municipalities of
Lingayen, Binmaley, Manaoag, and the cities of Dagupan and
Urdaneta, with participants limited to those who have lived
or worked in the area for at least five years. By focusing

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 Pangasinan State University
College of Criminology
Binmaley, Pangasinan

on these locations, the research aims to provide insights

into the impact of lowering the age of criminal
responsibility within a specific socio-cultural and legal
context. The study will explore how such a policy change may
affect children, families, law enforcement agencies, and the
wider community.

Figure 1. Site Map of Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City and

Urdaneta City.
Source:https://www.google.com/maps/@16.033587,120.3591462,11z?
hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Respondents of the Study

The respondents are the ones who fill out the

questionnaire the researcher sent the respondents, which
gives the researcher the data they require.
It is composed of different sub groups in different
municipalities and cities in Pangasinan. It includes
Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag and Urdaneta.
The respondents for this research study contained one
hundred eighty(180) respondents in total, with twenty(20)
number of respondents from the nine(9) different sub-groups
made up of both male and female.

SUB-GROUPS NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Religious Sector 20
Educational Sector 20
Law Enforcement Sector 20
Government Officials 20
Parents 20
Local Government Unit 20
Non-Government Organization 20

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 Pangasinan State University
College of Criminology
Binmaley, Pangasinan

Business Sector 20
Ordinary Citizen 20

Instrumentation

To collect the data needed for this study, the

researchers will prepare a survey questionnaire to collect
the necessary information, which is divided into four parts:
obtaining the respondent’s demographic profile, assessing
the sub-groups, and examining the perspective of lowering
the age of criminal responsibility.
The first part of the questionnaire collected
respondents’ personal information, including the age,
gender, and social roles. The second part of the
questionnaire focused on support or opposition to lowering
the age of criminal responsibility. Respondents will be
asked to indicate their opinions on the given statements
about their perspective of lowering the age of criminal
responsibility using a five-point Likert scale with response
options ranging from “strongly support (5)” to “strongly
oppose (1)," including “support (4)," “neutral (3)," and
“oppose (2).".
The researchers will consult the statistician first to
obtain initial clearance for data gathering. Once clearance
was granted, they forwarded a request letter to the Campus
Executive Director (CED), who subsequently granted
permission for data collection from various groups in the
different five (5) cities and municipalities in Pangasinan,
including the religious sector, educational sector, and law
enforcement.
The researchers will administer the survey
questionnaires to the selected respondents, ensuring that
they captured diverse perspectives on the lowering age of
criminal responsibility. Upon completion of the data
collection process, the researchers will collaborate with
their group adviser and the campus statistician to analyze
the responses and draw relevant conclusions. Based on the
findings, they formulated recommendations to address the
issues raised by the study.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will gather the data from nine (9)

groups of respondents (i.e. religious sector, educational
sector, law enforcement sector, government officials,

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 Pangasinan State University
College of Criminology
Binmaley, Pangasinan

parents, Local Government Unit, Non-Government

Organizations, business sector, and ordinary citizens). The
study will be conducted only within the vicinity of the
five(5) chosen municipalities or cities (i.e. Lingayen,
Binmaley, Dagupan City, Manaoag, Urdaneta City Pangasinan).
That means each respondent selected specifically based on
the given groups cannot be the respondent for the other
groups. Although the sampling is nonrandom, the researchers
ensured that respondents will be selected fairly using the
following criteria:

a. Must be 18-70 years old.

b. Must belong to a certain said group.
c. Must be willing to participate in the study.

Before the survey, informed consent will be obtained to

ensure that the respondents’ rights and privacy are
respected with the highest respect and that confidentiality
is maintained.

Statistical Treatment

Ethical Consideration

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