Is there an age cut-off for juvenile court proceedings?

In North Carolina, if an individual is age 16 or older, their case will automatically be handled in adult criminal court as opposed to juvenile criminal court. Individuals who are younger than 16 will generally be sent to juvenile court, but certain exceptions exist. For example, the court could decide to charge a person older than 15 as an adult if the crime they committed is serious enough or if they have an extensive criminal history. In general, North Carolina law states that anyone who is 13 or older at the time of their offense can be tried as a juvenile or an adult. Persons 12 and under must be tried in juvenile court. However, it is also important to note that juveniles aged 16 and older may also be tried in juvenile court in certain circumstances, such as when the court finds that there is a better likelihood of rehabilitation in juvenile court as opposed to adult court. Overall, the age cut-off for juvenile court proceedings in North Carolina is 16 years old. However, individuals 12 and older may still be tried in juvenile court if the court finds it is in the best interest of justice. Additionally, persons 16 and older may be tried in juvenile court if certain criteria are met. It is important to note that the law provides certain exceptions to the general rule, which can result in individuals who are 16 or older being tried in juvenile court.

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Is there an age cut-off for juvenile court proceedings?

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