A child not yet over twelve years of age who commits an act provided by law to be an offence shall not be punished.
The inquiry official shall deliver such child under the first paragraph to the competent official under the child protection law for the purpose of child welfare protection under such law.
Age of ResponsibilityอายุความรับผิดChild Protectionคุ้มครองเด็กแก้ไขล่าสุดล่าสุด
เหตุใดส่วนนี้จึงมีความสำคัญทำไมมาตรานี้จึงสำคัญ
Section 73 sets the minimum age of criminal responsibility. As amended by Act No. 29 (B.E. 2565/2022), the age was raised from 10 to 12 years, aligning Thailand more closely with international standards on juvenile justice.
Originally set at 7 years in B.E. 2499, raised to 10 years by amendment, then to 12 years in 2022. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends a minimum age of 14.
Children under 12 cannot be prosecuted. Those aged 12-15 may face protective measures but not criminal punishment. This has significant implications for juvenile delinquency cases.
