What age is considered a juvenile in court?
In California, anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be a minor or juvenile and is treated differently in the courts compared to an adult. Juveniles generally have more lenient treatment than an adult who has committed the same crime. This is because the juvenile court system values rehabilitation and the belief that those under the age of 18 are not as responsible for their actions. When a juvenile is charged with a crime and brought to court, the court will determine if they should receive a sentence in the juvenile system or the adult criminal justice system. Juveniles that are under 16 years of age must appear in juvenile court. Anyone 16 years and older may be sent to the adult criminal court if the circumstances of the crime warrant it. The court will look at the nature of the crime, the age of the juvenile, prior criminal history, and attitude to determine the appropriate sentence. The purpose of the juvenile court system is to provide guidance, structure, and supervision to young offenders instead of punishing them. Juveniles who have committed a crime can receive services, counseling, and if appropriate, incarceration. The juvenile court system is designed to protect the public, hold juveniles accountable for their actions and allow for rehabilitation, rather than punishment.
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