Juvenile Crimes, Law and Trying a Juvenile as an Adult

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When is A Juvenile Tried as an Adult?

If a minor is over 16 years old at the time of the commission of an offense, the Juvenile Court may have a hearing to decide if the minor should be prosecuted in juvenile court or adult court. In court, these five criteria determine if the juvenile will be found “unfit”:

1. The minor’s sophistication.
2. The period necessary for rehabilitation of the minor.
3. The previous delinquent history of the minor.
4. The prior attempted rehabilitative efforts made.
5. The seriousness of the criminal offense.