This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Got it!

juvenile

In criminal law , a juvenile is an adolescent who is not old enough to take responsibility for a crime they are accused of, so they might not be seen in a traditional court, but by a juvenile court . A juvenile delinquent is an adolescent who has been found guilty of a crime.  At the federal level, the age limitation is under 18, but committing a serious crime or repeated offenses might cause a juvenile to be tried as an adult under criminal law according to 18 U.S. Code § 5031 . The juvenile is also protected specially by the law, for example, the juvenile shall not be detained for longer than a reasonable period of time before a magistrate judge; the arresting officer shall immediately advise the juvenile’s legal right and notify their parents and the attorney general , according to 18 U.S. Code § 5033 . 

See also: juvenile justice

In civil law , “juvenile” and “minor” are commonly used to indicate a person who lacks civil liability .

[Last reviewed in April of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team
]

Wex

• LIFE EVENTS

• family & personal matters

• juvenile law

• THE LEGAL PROCESS

• courts

• criminal law

• criminal procedure

• legal practice/ethics

• wex definitions

• civil procedure

• courts and procedure

• criminal law and procedure

• family law

• legal education and practice