Juvenile Justice Age
Compare juvenile justice age thresholds across all 50 states, including maximum juvenile court age, age of transfer to adult court, and LWOP for juveniles.
Click any column header to sort ascending or descending. Click again to reverse, and a third time to reset.
| State | Max Juvenile Age | Transfer Age | LWOP for Juveniles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17 | 14 | No (Miller v. Alabama) |
| Alaska | 17 | 16 | No |
| Arizona | 17 | 14 | No |
| Arkansas | 17 | 14 | No |
| California | 17 | 16 | No (abolished) |
| Colorado | 17 | 14 | No |
| Connecticut | 17 | 15 | No |
| Delaware | 17 | 15 | No |
| Florida | 17 | 14 | Rare (with hearing) |
| Georgia | 16 | 13 | No |
| Hawaii | 17 | 14 (waiver) | No |
| Idaho | 17 | 14 | No |
| Illinois | 17 | 13 | No (abolished 2015) |
| Indiana | 17 | 14 | No |
| Iowa | 17 | 14 | No |
| Kansas | 17 | 14 | No |
| Kentucky | 17 | 14 | No |
| Louisiana | 17 | 14 | No |
| Maine | 17 | No statutory transfer | No |
| Maryland | 17 | 14 | No (abolished 2021) |
| Massachusetts | 17 | 14 | No (Diatchenko, 2013) |
| Michigan | 17 | 14 | Rare (with hearing) |
| Minnesota | 17 | 14 | No |
| Mississippi | 17 | 13 | No |
| Missouri | 17 | 12 | No |
| Montana | 17 | 12 | No |
| Nebraska | 17 | 14 | No |
| Nevada | 17 | 16 (certification) | No |
| New Hampshire | 17 | 13 | No |
| New Jersey | 17 | 14 | No |
| New Mexico | 17 | 14 | No |
| New York | 17 | 13 (serious offenses) | No |
| North Carolina | 17 | 13 | No |
| North Dakota | 17 | 14 | No |
| Ohio | 17 | 14 | No |
| Oklahoma | 17 | 13 | No |
| Oregon | 17 | 15 | No |
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 14 | Rare (with hearing) |
| Rhode Island | 17 | 16 | No |
| South Carolina | 16 | 14 | No |
| South Dakota | 17 | 10 | No |
| Tennessee | 17 | 14 | No |
| Texas | 16 | 14 | No (40-year min instead) |
| Utah | 17 | 14 | No |
| Vermont | 17 | 16 | No |
| Virginia | 17 | 14 | No (abolished 2020) |
| Washington | 17 | 16 (decline) | No |
| West Virginia | 17 | 14 | No |
| Wisconsin | 16 | 14 | No |
| Wyoming | 17 | 14 | No |
Juvenile justice ages reflect general jurisdiction cutoffs. Transfer/waiver provisions vary by offense severity. The U.S. Supreme Court (Miller v. Alabama, Montgomery v. Louisiana) restricts mandatory LWOP for juveniles. Some states retain discretionary LWOP with individual hearing requirements.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.