Teenagers tried as adults

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Skip to content. In June, a year-old boy was arrested after he threw a rock at police during a political rally in New Mexico. Prosecutors stated that the boy, who was charged with two felonies, would be tried as an adult. We want to guide him and lead him in the right direction. Join the ABA's Section of Litigation and gain value and insight in your career, no matter your experience level.

A report on health impacts of charging youth as adults, with recommendations for increased community investment and restorative justice-oriented solutions. In all 50 states, youth under age 18 can be tried in adult criminal court through various types of juvenile transfer laws. In California, youth as young as 14 can be tried as adults at the discretion of a juvenile court judge. When young people are transferred out of the juvenile system, they are more likely to be convicted and typically receive harsher sentences than youth who remain in juvenile court charged with similar crimes.

Despite the establishment of a separate juvenile justice system over a century ago, youth are routinely charged and prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system. While crime has steadily decreased since that time, these laws continue to subject youth to criminal conviction and sentencing. While these differences do not excuse youth from responsibility for their actions, the U.