Persons below a certain age lack the requisite mental capacity to form mens rea.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mens rea, or the intention to commit a crime, requires a certain level of mental capacity to understand and intend the actions one is undertaking. Children below a certain age are presumed to lack this capacity, as their cognitive and moral development is not yet fully formed, making it legally and ethically challenging to attribute criminal intent to them in the same way as adults.

Persons Below a Certain Age Lack the Requisite Mental Capacity