Raising the minimum criminal responsibility age to 14 would increase crime that can be gotten away with

I mean, that is assault/battery of an officer.

But raising (Or lowering) the age of responsibility to 14 is insane.

Yes, what the officer did was indeed unacceptable. But even if the criminal was 15, I'd still believe a PSO officer slapping the criminal would still be unacceptable.

I get it. But this wouldn’t be a good idea, since street gangs start recruiting kids at age 14 or younger. If the kids knew that they could do any kind of crime and not risk going to jail for it, then that would only increase that gang-initiation problem. The current juvenile justice system (“juvie”) seems adequate: A reduced table of punishments when crimes are committed by young people.

HOWEVER:

I would also say that to reduce the incentives of young people falling into a life of crime, all children ages 0-18 should receive some kind of government stipend that they can access at age 18 (and which can’t be touched by their parents) in order to pay for college, to start a business, to put a downpayment on their first house, to pay for a marriage, to pay childcare expenses, or meet other qualified life expenses.

Social security for young people, basically. Because young people are getting totally throttled these days by out-of-control housing, education, and other expenses. A “nest egg” that you can touch at age 18 would also help teach personal finance and planning skills from a young age.

"I get it. But this wouldn’t be a good idea, since street gangs start recruiting kids at age 14 or younger."

Exactly. If Queensland introduced this law, then Queensland would be screwed as people under the age of 14 would be getting away from crime, not to mention Queensland is in a youth crime crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0E1rj-EyKU (7news report "Youth Crime Crisis Grips Queensland).

"If the kids knew that they could do any kind of crime and not risk going to jail for it, then that would only increase that gang-initiation problem. The current juvenile justice system (“juvie”) seems adequate: A reduced table of punishments when crimes are committed by young people."

Exactly.

HOWEVER:

"I would also say that to reduce the incentives of young people falling into a life of crime, all children ages 0-18 should receive some kind of government stipend that they can access at age 18 (and which can’t be touched by their parents) in order to pay for college, to start a business, to put a downpayment on their first house, to pay for a marriage, to pay childcare expenses, or meet other qualified life expenses."

And how much is that going to cost the government?

"Social security for young people, basically. Because young people are getting totally throttled these days by out-of-control housing, education, and other expenses. A “nest egg” that you can touch at age 18 would also help teach personal finance and planning skills from a young age."

Can you explain how a "nest egg" can help teach personal finance and planning skills from a young age?

How much would it cost? Haven’t priced it out. It’s just an idea. A larger “age-18 nest egg” would cost more, a smaller nest egg would cost less. But it wouldn’t cost “the government” anything, as my proposal to fund it would consist entirely of tax hikes on the rich (not adding to the national debt). A portion of it would come back to the government in the form of sales taxes as well.

I don’t understand your other question. How would having $10,000 (or whatever it is) to start your life journey *not* help teach personal finance skills?

"How much would it cost? Haven’t priced it out. It’s just an idea. A larger “age-18 nest egg” would cost more, a smaller nest egg would cost less. But it wouldn’t cost “the government” anything, as my proposal to fund it would consist entirely of tax hikes on the rich (not adding to the national debt). A portion of it would come back to the government in the form of sales taxes as well."

So I guess private businesses can start the "nest egg" thing? Maybe we could get charter schools to give $10,000 to a graduate at the end of Year 12 or as a Senior student.

"I don’t understand your other question. How would having $10,000 (or whatever it is) to start your life journey *not* help teach personal finance skills?"

I guess you have answered my question the best to your abilities. But we can certainly find out whether $10,000 to start off with IRL is a good idea by playing Monopoly (a great way to find out first hand how capitalism works).

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151367036/story-monopoly-american-capitalism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epdk2AKZ1fg

Nine News report