ABA Family Legal Guide

Family Law

Children

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents

What are the rights of children who are accused of committing crimes?

Children accused of committing crimes are subject to the juvenile courts of the state in which the crime was committed, rather than the regular criminal justice system. Juvenile courts provide children with only some of the due process safeguards that adults receive. In return, juvenile courts have more freedom to deal with juveniles in an effort to rehabilitate them. In some states, children accused of serious crimes who are above a certain age--such as thirteen--may be tried in court as adults.