What is the statute of limitations for juvenile offenders?

The statute of limitations for juvenile offenders in California states that criminal charges must be either filed or dismissed within three years of when the criminal action occurred. However, the three-year deadline may be extended if the victim or the district attorney’s office requests an extension. This extension can be requested up to one year before the juvenile turns 18, or even three years after they turn 18. If a juvenile is convicted at the age of 18 or older, the statute of limitations no longer applies. For any cases that occurred before the juvenile turned 18, if the district attorney does not file a charge before their 18th birthday, the charges automatically expire. There are certain exceptions to the statute of limitations for juveniles. If a case is considered to involve a serious felony, such as murder, the district attorney may file charges at any time. If the criminal action was committed when the juvenile was younger than 14, then criminal proceedings must be initiated before the juvenile turns 19. In California, the statute of limitations for juvenile offenders is different than for adults. Juveniles are afforded certain protections to ensure that criminal action is taken in a timely manner without unnecessarily damaging their futures. While this may be beneficial to some people, it is important to remember that juveniles are still accountable for their actions.

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What is the statute of limitations for juvenile offenders?

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