When can a juvenile case be referred to adult court?
In Washington, juvenile court cases can be referred to adult court if the juvenile is at least 16 years of age and is accused of committing Class A felony, or has been twice convicted of any crime, or has been found to have committed a previous Class A felony. In general, juvenile cases can also be referred to adult court if the juvenile committed a particular violent offense, such as a crime against a person or involving a deadly weapon. Juveniles can also be charged as adults if they are 16 or 17 years old and are accused of a certain type of serious offense that requires more than a year in prison if convicted. Additionally, if a juvenile is 17 years old and has been previously convicted of certain crimes that are serious enough to warrant a prison sentence of more than a year, the juvenile may be referred to adult court. The decision to refer a juvenile case to adult court is ultimately made by the court. The court takes into consideration the nature of the offense and the circumstances of the juvenile’s prior criminal history, if any. The court also weighs the severity of the crime, the age of the juvenile, and the outcome of the juvenile court case. The court will also consider if the juvenile will likely benefit from rehabilitation if the case remains in juvenile court or if adult court could provide more protections for the community.
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