Rick Ward, who was charged as an adult at 16 for murder, is now a youth advocate and mentor. Rick Ward was 16 when he was arrested for murder. He'd never before been in trouble with the law. He was held 48 hours in the Birmingham City Jail, but because he was a minor, he was put in isolation to keep him away from adult inmates. In Alabama, unlike in most other states, teens who are 16 and 17 are automatically charged as adults for certain crimes , including burglary and murder.

The Effects Of Charging Juveniles Of Adults



Should Juveniles Be Charged as Adults in the Criminal Justice System?
Skip to content. In June, a year-old boy was arrested after he threw a rock at police during a political rally in New Mexico. Prosecutors stated that the boy, who was charged with two felonies, would be tried as an adult. We want to guide him and lead him in the right direction. Join the ABA's Section of Litigation and gain value and insight in your career, no matter your experience level.


When Can a Juvenile Be Charged as an Adult?
A report on health impacts of charging youth as adults, with recommendations for increased community investment and restorative justice-oriented solutions. In all 50 states, youth under age 18 can be tried in adult criminal court through various types of juvenile transfer laws. In California, youth as young as 14 can be tried as adults at the discretion of a juvenile court judge.



FOR the second year in a row, Gov. Andrew M. If that legislation fails again this year, it will leave New York and North Carolina as the only states where people age 16 and older can be tried as an adult and, if incarcerated, locked up in adult prisons and jails.