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Ireland

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024

In short

This law creates new offenses for adults who involve children in criminal activities and amends existing bail laws to include these new offenses.

What it regulates

  • Offenses for adults who compel, coerce, direct, or deceive children into criminal activity.
  • Offenses for adults who induce, invite, aid, abet, counsel, or procure children for criminal activity.
  • The liability of an adult for these offenses, regardless of the child's involvement or prosecution.
  • The inclusion of these new offenses in the Bail Act 1997.

Who it concerns

  • Adults (persons who have attained the age of 18 years) who engage children in criminal activity.
  • Children (persons who have not attained the age of 18 years) who are involved in criminal activity by adults.

Key points

  • An "adult" is someone 18 years or older, and a "child" is someone under 18 years.
  • "Criminal activity" is defined as an activity that constitutes an offense, or would constitute an offense if done by an adult.
  • An adult can be found guilty of an offense under this Act even if the child did not engage in the criminal activity, did not intend to, or was not prosecuted.
  • Penalties for conviction can include a class A fine or imprisonment up to 12 months on summary conviction, or a fine or imprisonment up to 5 years on conviction on indictment.
Legal text
Legal text

Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

  1. ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
  2. ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2024 Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 8 of 2024 CRIMINAL JUSTICE (ENGAGEMENT OF CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY) ACT 2024 CONTENTS Section 1. Definitions 2. Offences and related provisions 3. Amendment of Schedule to Bail Act 1997 4. Application of Act 5. Short title and commencement Act Referred to Bail Act 1997 (No. 16) Number 8 of 2024 CRIMINAL JUSTICE (ENGAGEMENT OF CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY) ACT 2024 An Act to provide for offences relating to the engagement of a child in criminal activity; to amend the Bail Act 1997 ; and to provide for related matters. [11th March, 2024] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: Definitions 1. In this Act— “adult” means a person who has attained the age of 18 years; “child” means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years; “criminal activity” means activity— (
  4. a)that constitutes an offence, or (
  5. b)that, had it been engaged in by a person of full age and capacity, would constitute an offence; “directs”, in relation to criminal activity, means— (
  6. a)controls or supervises the activity, or (
  7. b)gives an order, instruction or guidance to, or makes a request of, a person with respect to the carrying out of the activity, with the intention that the person shall carry out that activity. Offences and related provisions 2.

(1)An adult who, knowing that a person is a child or being reckless as to whether a person who is a child is a child— (
  1. a)compels, coerces or directs the child, or (
  2. b)deceives the child, for the purpose of causing that child to engage in criminal activity, shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)An adult who, knowing that a person is a child or being reckless as to whether a person who is a child is a child— (
  1. a)induces or invites, or (
  2. b)aids, abets, counsels or procures, the child for the purpose of causing that child to engage in criminal activity, shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)An adult may be convicted of an offence under this section irrespective of whether the child concerned— (
  1. a)engaged in the criminal activity concerned, (
  2. b)intended to engage in the criminal activity concerned, or (
  3. c)has been prosecuted for, or found guilty of, any offence constituted by the criminal activity concerned.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (
  1. a)on summary conviction, to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both, or (
  2. b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or both. Amendment of Schedule to Bail Act 1997 3. The Schedule to the Bail Act 1997 is amended by the insertion of the following after paragraph 44: “Offences under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 45. An offence under the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024.”. Application of Act 4. The provisions of this Act shall be without prejudice to any other enactment or rule of law. Short title and commencement 5.
(1)This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024.
(2)This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister for Justice may by order appoint. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.