What are the criteria for transferring a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court?

In the state of Washington, there are certain criteria for transferring a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court. The difference between the two courts comes down to the age of the juvenile and the severity of the crime. The juvenile court system is for juveniles ages 10 to 18, while adult court is for those ages 18 and older. When considering juvenile transfer, the court will determine if the juvenile is a danger to society and if the juvenile committed a crime that is too serious to be handled in juvenile court. If it is determined that the juvenile is likely to commit other crimes if not transferred, the court may decide that the best option is to transfer the juvenile to the adult court system. In addition to the above criteria, the prosecutor will consider the juvenile’s age, prior criminal history, potential for rehabilitation, the seriousness of the crime and any mitigating circumstances. The prosecutor will also take into account the opinion of the victim or victims’ families, as well as comments from any other affected individuals. Finally, the issue of whether the juvenile’s sentence in the adult court system would be justified compared with the sentence in the juvenile court system will be considered. It is important to note that in Washington, a juvenile is automatically transferred to the adult court system if they are 16 or 17 years old and charged with a Class A felony. In these cases, the judge does not have the discretion to choose whether or not to transfer the juvenile.

What are the criteria for transferring a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court?

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