Why children cannot – and should not – be tried as adults
By Liane Pena Alampay, PhD, Psychological Association of the Philippines
November 10, 2012

Liane Peña Alampay, PhD, is a developmental psychologist. She is an associate professor at the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Psychology and a member of the Psychological Association of the Philippines.

Earlier this week, emerging from the long All Souls’ Day break, Filipinos were greeted by the depressing news of a 9-year-old child who was apparently killed by other children in Taguig. Among the suspects was an 11-year-old, and police said the whole depressing episode started with the older boy’s gang’s attempt to bully the victim for some money.

Just as details of the unfortunate news came to light, police and anti-crime groups were already suggesting that maybe it’s time to revisit a controversial proposal to lower the age of criminal accountability – to start trying children in conflict with the law as adults.

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