Law change to lower minimum detention age

A draft law amendment that would lower the minimum age of those who can be detained for noncriminal offenses to 14 has drawn a mixed response from experts.

The Ministry of Public Security released a list of proposed revisions to the Law on Penalties for Administrative Detention last month to seek public opinion.

The list included changing an article that states juveniles aged 14 to 16 cannot receive administrative detention, which is generally used for offenders who commit noncriminal offenses and lasts for about 20 days.