Criminal responsibility is possible from age 14.

The age threshold enables an assessment; it does not replace it.

Someone under 14 when an act occurs is not criminally responsible under section 19 of the Criminal Code. At the 14th birthday, criminal responsibility becomes possible for juveniles. The relevant age is the age at the time of the act, rather than only at a later hearing.

Under section 3 of the Youth Courts Act, a juvenile’s moral and intellectual development also matters. Youth criminal law particularly directs its responses towards preventing further offences. Section 5 first identifies educational measures, with disciplinary measures or youth imprisonment subject to further conditions.

The other three answers

Personal responsibility is not the same as adult criminal law.

The short exam answer is not a promise of automatic punishment.

The catalogue’s wording is highly compressed. In practice, the offence, culpability and other requirements must be established. Educational measures must also not simply be equated with youth imprisonment.

The age groups remain distinct: the Act defines juveniles as 14 to under 18 and young adults as 18 to under 21. Further special rules apply to young adults. Lack of criminal responsibility under 14 likewise does not make harmful conduct permissible or remove every other possible consequence.