Can a little kid be convicted of a crime?

[dbrennan]

Deleted.............

[counihan]

Yes, some states have different age minimums...

10+ for example!

:D

[Sgt. Slaughter]

It varies from state to state.

Generally, juveniles cannot be charged with a crime as you and I know it unless the state statute permits it and only then for specific crimes. You hear of kids in the news being "charged as an adult" for homicides and other heinous acts? That's why.

Juveniles can be "adjudicated delinquent" among other things, incorrigible is another term the court uses. For standard street cops, juvenile crime are a pain in the neck because we don't see them being held responsible. They have their own version of the Miranda warning and the Juvenile Court system isn't designed to punish them, it's like a diversion program. You may have a "Probation Officer" but their job is to see the juvi's get the counseling they need and do their community service.

[dbrennan]

Deleted...........

[dbrennan]

oops posted that before I saw Sgt. response

[retdetsgt]

Here, juvenile court isn't even going to get involved with a kid that young. The problem is between the store he shoplifted from and the parents. A kid that young is still learning between what's right and wrong.

[phantasm]

So if a little kid that is 6 or 7 gets into trouble for shoplifting candy its not documented it just goes away?

In NY, that would be a juvenile report, and would be adjudicated in family court. In other words. Mom or dad or guardian would have to pick up the child from the precinct, and might have to go to family court the next day.

[L-1]

In California. the law deems children under the age of 14 incapable of committing a crime, in the absence of clear proof that at the time of committing the act charged against them, they knew its wrongfulness. However, this does not let them off the hook.

Should a child engage in an act that would be punishable if an adult were to do the same thing, they may be declared wards of the court and dealt with appropriately.

It's more a game of semantics. Appropriate corrective action is taken given their age. But, like putting lipstick on a pig, their arrest is merely called a "detention" and their otherwise criminal act is not labeled as a "crime."

[TX-LEO]

I have asked 2 other questions today, but I want to know if a little 6 year old kid can be convicted of a breaking and entering charge. Is there laws set in place for how old someone must be in order to be charged with a crime. How does it work when its a little kid.

Not in TX.

[txinvestigator1]

Not in TX.

Yep. In Texas children under 10 do not even fall into the Juvenile Justice Code. From 10 to 16, they cannot be convicted of a crime unless certified to stand trial as an adult.

From 10-16 they can be adjudication of engaging in delinquint conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision. Some things that can result in that are violation of the penal code.