From which age onwards are we responsible for our actions?

Answer 1

Legally?
7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 25 ....depending on the geographic location you're in, and what you're talking about.

Criminally, it varies. Here in Ontario, no child under 12 can be charged with a criminal offence, but a child under 12 who commits repeated or severe crimes (i.e. aggravated assaults, murder, etc.) can be ordered into secure treatment centres or treatment-level foster homes by a judge, i.e. on the application of a Children's Aid Society, or perhaps an application by a parent at risk / to protect other children or vulnerable people in the home.
At 12, youths can be arrested, charged, detained, tried, and convicted under the youth version of the Criminal code. In England, for example, children age TEN can be arrested/tried/convicted.

As for non-criminal law, as far as I know, in Ontario:
- a child is asked for consent to a step-parent adoption at age 7
- if a child is ever left home without a babysitter under the age of 10 or 11, even for a few minutes, the parent can get into much more trouble if something goes wrong than if they are 12+
- a child at age 12 has to give consent or be ordered by a judge to enter into foster care (parents can't just dump a 13-14 year old into care by signing a piece of paper with a child protection worker)
- it may be different, but I think a girl at 14 can arrange an abortion without parental consent
- a 14 year old can consent to sex with another youth over 14, but not an adult
- a 14 year old can have legal responsibility as a trained lifeguard
- some provinces allow youth to start driving as a learner at age 15 (or they used to), but in Ontario you can't start the first of the three-stage licensing process until age 16
- at 16, a child in longterm foster care can apply to have their Crown Ward (TPR) status revoked and/or move on to 'independent living'
- a child under 16 is required by law to attnd school or in exceptional circumstances, vocational training (there is currently a move to extend this to 18)
- a child age 16 can have sex with an adult who is NOT in a position of authority over them or a significant position of trust (i.e. teacher, coach, caregiver, step-parent, counselor, doctor, etc.) There is also a current movement to change this to age 18
- a 17 year-old can donate blood
- an 18 year old is, in Ontario, considered legally an adult capable of making their own choices in almost every way.
Some exceptions:
Ontario adults cannot drink alcohol until age 19, although you can work in a bar at age 18.
I can't recall with certainty, but you may have to be 19 to purchase cigarrettes, also.
Some car rental companies and insurance companies prohibit drivers under the age of 21 or 25.
Money or assets put in trust for a minorare not automatically available to them at age 18. Some may stipulate 19, 21, 25 ....

Apart form the law, what about the real world?
In MY experience, you're responsible for your actions when you are cognitively mature enough to undestand them. So while I would not punish a 1-2 year old child for hitting, I WOULD take issue with a 9 year old doing so. And while the onus is on me to keep alcohol and prescriptions away from4, 5, or 6 year olds in my care who might think it's pop or candy, the 11 year old who breaks the lock on the liquor cabinet is going to have consequences. ....IMHO

Answer 2

I don't think there is a specific black and white age. Many youth under 18 are tried as adults as an example. From a legal stand point I understand the need for a set age such as 18, but I think people should be held accountable in a moral sense when they are able to distinguish between right and wrong. Some people learn and develop faster than others, some have diasabilities and struggle with ethics their whole lives.

Answer 3

18

Answer 4

18

Answer 5

18

Answer 6

18 is the legal age. Personally we are responsible for our actions as a much younger age. So it would depend on the action. For example a 4 year old should be potty trained. By that age the child is old enough to definitely understand training.

Answer 7

For me, five years old, when I made a conscious effort to keep from stepping on a small bug. Even today at sixty-three I will make an effort to remove a spider to a quieter part of our home (instead of inside the bathtub, which must be like being stuck in the Saraha Desert for the little spider!) or place an earwig outside from under an opened screen. It only takes a second to save a life. - C.

Answer 8

In the UK the legal age for responsibility for criminal actions is 10 years old.

Answer 9

my children know right from wrong and have done from a very early age (about 4) as soon as they are able to understand this i feel they are responsible for their actions and should then be taught what can happen if they do wrong (whatever the incident is) - If you are taking from a legal point of view then i believe you cannnot go to jail until you are 18 (criminally insane it is younger - because they go to a secured unit)

Answer 10

Age of consent 16---18 depending on the state. Over 18 "of age" and has certain priviliges as well as responsibilities.