The current age of criminal responsibility in our country is roughly divided into: under 14 years old, 14-16 years old (inclusive), 16-18 years old (inclusive), over 18 years old, and over 75 years old.
Among them, those under the age of 14 are not criminally responsible, but are subject to juvenile detention.
Ages 14-16 are limited to eight types of vicious criminal cases such as murder, arson, poisoning, and blasting, but the punishment should be reduced compared to adult criminals.
16-18 year olds are criminally responsible, but the death penalty is not applicable and should be given a lighter or reduced punishment than adult criminals.
Those who are 18 years of age or older bear full criminal responsibility. However, for criminal acts committed by mentally ill suspects without behavioral awareness at the time of onset, they will not bear criminal responsibility, but will be required to undergo compulsory treatment.
People over 75 years old are the same as people over 18 years old, but there are some preferential measures in the death penalty, that is, criminal suspects over 75 years old are not sentenced to death.
Legal basis:
Article 17 of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
A person who has reached the age of sixteen who commits a crime shall bear criminal responsibility.
Any person who is over 14 years old but under 16 years old and commits the crime of intentional homicide, intentional injury, causing serious injury or death, rape, robbery, drug trafficking, arson, explosion, or placing dangerous substances shall be held criminally responsible. responsibility.
If a person who is over 12 years old but under 14 years old commits the crime of intentional homicide or intentional injury, causing death or severe disability by particularly cruel means, and the circumstances are serious, prosecution shall be approved by the Supreme People's Procuratorate. , should bear criminal responsibility.
If a person under the age of 18 is held criminally responsible in accordance with the provisions of the first three paragraphs, he shall be given a lighter or reduced punishment.
Those who are not subject to criminal punishment because they are under the age of 16 shall be ordered to discipline their parents or other guardians;
If necessary, special corrective education shall be carried out in accordance with the law.