A premier has promised laws to sentence children as adults for brazen crimes, in a move that's been widely condemned.

Victoria's Labor government has adopted "adult time for violent crime" laws, echoing a controversial policy of Queensland's Liberal-National government.

Under the legislation, children 14 and over who commit home invasions, aggravated home invasion, recklessly or intentionally causing injury and aggravated carjacking must be dealt with in the County Court.

Carjacking, aggravated burglary and armed robbery cases would be sentenced outside of the Children's Court in certain circumstances.

Kids as young as 14 convicted of aggravated home invasion and aggravated carjacking would face a maximum sentence of life in prison under the plan.

The principle of jail as a last resor

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