| Juveniles Tried as Adults |
|
| Q: |
What is the youngest age that a minor can be transferred to criminal court for trial as an adult? |
| A: |
In 2014, there were 22 States plus the District of Columbia that had at least one provision for transferring minors to criminal court for which no minimum age was specified. |
Minimum transfer age specified in statute, 2014
| State |
None specified |
Age 10 |
Age 12 |
Age 13 |
Age 14 |
Age 15 |
| Number of states |
23 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
16 |
1 |
| Alabama |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alaska |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Arizona |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Arkansas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| California |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Colorado |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Connecticut |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Delaware |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| District of Columbia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Florida |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Georgia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hawaii |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Idaho |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Illinois |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indiana |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Iowa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kansas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kentucky |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Louisiana |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Maine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Maryland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Massachusetts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Michigan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mississippi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Missouri |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Montana |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nebraska |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nevada |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Hampshire |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Jersey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Mexico |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New York |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| North Carolina |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| North Dakota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ohio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oklahoma |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Oregon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pennsylvania |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rhode Island |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| South Carolina |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| South Dakota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tennessee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Texas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Utah |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vermont |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Virginia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Washington |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| West Virginia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wisconsin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wyoming |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Table information is as of the end of the 2014 legislative session.
[ Map version ]
- The youngest age a minor can be tried as an adult usually aligns with the minimum age a minor could be adjudicated delinquent and the "minimum age of criminal responsibility" found in penal codes. Case law, including common law, may also set a youngest age, depending on the state.
- When a youngest age is not specified, legislatures may intend an age lower than a child could be adjudicated delinquent. For example, the lowest age a minor can be adjudicated delinquent is age 10 in Pennsylvania, but since murder is specifically excluded from the definition of a delinquent act, murder charges at any age would start in (adult) criminal court.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/structure_process/qa04105.asp?qaDate=2014.
Released on October 01, 2015.
USA.gov | Privacy | Policies & Disclaimers | FOIA | Site Map | Ask a Question | OJJDP Home
A component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
|
Printer-friendly