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

Yes. In Virginia, juvenile court proceedings are reserved for minors under the age of 18. This age cut-off applies no matter the severity of the offense or the age of the alleged perpetrator. If it is determined that a minor has committed a crime and they are under the age of 18, they will be subject to juvenile court proceedings, not adult criminal court proceedings. For certain types of offenses, Virginia also has a higher age cut-off for juvenile court hearings. These include certain serious offenses, such as murder and certain sexual offenses. In these cases, if the alleged offender is over the age of 14 and under the age of 18, they may be subject to juvenile court proceedings. For all other juvenile offenses, the age cut-off is 18. When minors reach the age of 18 or are determined to have committed a serious offense, they will be tried as an adult in a criminal court. The age cut-off for juvenile court proceedings in Virginia helps ensure that minors are given a fair and appropriate chance to be heard in a court of law. It also ensures that minors who have committed serious offenses receive the appropriate sentence.

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