Juvenile Crime

Age

Depending on the particular jurisdiction, the age criterion may vary. State statutes prescribe the upper and lower limits of the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, thereby signifying the age at which a juvenile can first be held legally culpable for his or her actions (the age of responsibility) as well as the age at which a juvenile is automatically excluded from juvenile court jurisdiction. Children younger than the age of responsibility are presumed to be incapable of forming mens tea (criminal intent) and consequently are ineligible to be prosecuted for their actions. Any individual who has attained the age of responsibility but who is younger than the age of majority as dictated by state statute may be regarded as a juvenile.

Conduct

The second element in juvenile crime pertains to the wrongfulness of the conduct involved; in other words, whether or not the action that has been committed constitutes a crime. The same behaviors that are considered unlawful or criminal if engaged in by adults are likewise regarded as unlawful or criminal if engaged in by juveniles. Additionally, juveniles are precluded from engaging in certain behaviors that are permissible if engaged in by adults, such as truancy, drinking, smoking, running away from home, having undesirable companions, and being disobedient to parents and teachers. These behaviors are called status offenses and are considered to serve as an early warning system of potential risk; a juvenile who drinks, smokes, skips school, and runs away from home is believed to demonstrate by his or her actions that something is amiss at home or at school and that, if left untreated, further problematic behavior may ensue. Action is believed to be warranted, then, in the juvenile's best interest as well as in the interest of public order and safety.

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