# When should kids be charged as adults?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-be-charged-as-adults/665106>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 1, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-be-charged-as-adults/665106 "2013-08-01T19:51:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 25

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-kids-be-charged-as-adults/665106/25 "2013-08-02T04:19:07Z")

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> [@Enola\_Straight](#):
>
> IIRC, the law treats Minor Offenders thusly:
> 
> Under seven years old, the child is an Infant without the requisite capacity for criminal intent, and the case is automatically thrown out of court.
> 
> 7-under 14, prerequisite incapacity assumed, but adult responsibility can be argued by prosecution.
> 
> 14-under 18 (or21?) Adult capacity assumed but prerequisite incapacity can be argued by defense.

That works for me. Some of the crimes done by 14 to 18 year olds, they are truly awful (like the ones I previously mentioned in this thread) - the anonymity given to Young Offenders along with the extremely light sentences are not proportional to the damage someone who is technically not an adult can do to their victims.

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