| Juveniles Tried as Adults |
|
| Q: |
What is the youngest age that a juvenile can be transferred to criminal court for trial as an adult? |
| A: |
There are 22 States plus the District of Columbia that have at least one provision for transferring juveniles to the criminal court for which no minimum age is specified. |
Minimum transfer age specified in statute, 2009
| State |
Minimum transfer age |
| None |
Age 10 |
Age 12 |
Age 13 |
Age 14 |
Age 15 |
|
| Alabama |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Alaska |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Arizona |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Arkansas |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| California |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Colorado |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
| Connecticut |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Delaware |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| District of Columbia |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Georgia |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Hawaii |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Idaho |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Illinois |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Indiana |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Iowa |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Kansas |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
| Kentucky |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Louisiana |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Maine |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Maryland |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Massachusetts |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Michigan |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Mississippi |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Missouri |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| Montana |
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
| Nebraska |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nevada |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| New Hampshire |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| New Jersey |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| New Mexico |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
| New York |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
| North Carolina |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| North Dakota |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Ohio |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Oklahoma |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Oregon |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Pennsylvania |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rhode Island |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Carolina |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Dakota |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tennessee |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Texas |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Utah |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
|
| Vermont |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
| Virginia |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| Washington |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| West Virginia |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wisconsin |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
| Wyoming |
|
|
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Note: Table information is as of the end of the 2009 legislative session.
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[ Excel file ]
- Most States (16) that specify a minimum age set the minimum at age 14.
- Other sections of the State statute may specify a minimum age for juvenile court delinquency jurisdiction (below which juveniles can not be processed as delinquents in juvenile court) and/or a minimum age for criminal responsibility (below which children can not be tried in criminal court).
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/structure_process/qa04105.asp?qaDate=2009.
Released on April 22, 2011.
Material originally compiled by P. Griffin for the National Center for Juvenile Justice's State Juvenile Justice Profiles website.
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