EDITORIAL: Tougher Juvenile Law.

The Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito and the Conservative Party have finalized a draft of a bill to amend the Juvenile Law and plan to submit the bill to the extraordinary Diet session so that it may be enacted by mid-November. But the parties in the ruling coalition may be acting too hastily on an issue which could have far-reaching consequences for the future welfare of our children.

The amendment would lower the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14; require family courts to refer all cases involving juveniles aged 16 or above who have committed crimes resulting in death to public prosecutors; and give family courts the discretion to request the involvement …