Trying Juveniles as Adults Q&A

The policy of trying juveniles (persons under the age of 17) as adults is controversial, especially in many liberal states. This is especially true in states that will try any minor as an adult if the crime warrants such conditions, though most states have a minimum age for adult court proceedings.

Following are a few questions and answers that are often asked about trying juveniles as adults.

Trying Juveniles as Adults: What does it mean to try a juvenile as an adult?

When a juvenile is tried as an adult, he or she is tried in an adult court with adult sentences standing as possibilities upon conviction. Juveniles who are tried as adults can face jail time, fines, and other punishments as recommended by the judge. It also gives the defendant the right to a jury trial, which is not offered in most juvenile courts.

Trying Juveniles as Adults: Why might a juvenile case be transferred to an adult court?

The two most important qualities that will instigate a transfer from juvenile to adult court are age and the severity of a crime. For example, a fifteen-year-old who murders his teacher might very well be tried as an adult because of his proximity to adulthood and the viciousness of the crime.

Trying Juveniles as Adults: How old does a minor have to be to be tried as an adult?

This depends on the state in which the juvenile was charged for the crime. Some states impose age minimums as criteria for trying juveniles as adults, which may be as old as fifteen or as low as twelve. Other states allow any minor to be tried as an adult as long as he or she knows the difference between right and wrong.

Trying Juveniles as Adults: What are the benefits of trying a juvenile in juvenile court?

Many people believe that it is always better to try a juvenile in juvenile court, but here are some of the most common arguments:

– Juvenile records are more easily sealed than adult records
– Juvenile convictions are less likely to make an impact on the child’s future than an adult conviction
– Sentences handed down in juvenile court are often less severe and are sometimes tailored to the juvenile’s individual situation
– Sentences for incarceration are usually shorter in juvenile courts, and judges are not able to hand down lengthy jail sentences, such as life imprisonment.
– Jail sentences are served in juvenile detention centers rather than jails or prisons.

Trying Juveniles as Adults: What are the benefits of trying a juvenile as an adult?

There are actually several reasons why an adult court would be in the best interest of a minor:

– Adult courts allow juveniles to have their cases heard in a jury trial.
– Large cities often have overfilled dockets, and the case might be disposed of more quickly or even dismissed.
– Adult courts may have more sympathy for a minor than a court that hears juvenile cases all the time.