A new bill proposes raising the age from 18 to 21.
Scientists have demonstrated that a teenager’s brain is not fully developed until they reach approximately 26 years of age. Until that point, the frontal lobe — the part of your brain that helps you plan, make decisions, avoid risk and exercise impulse control — is still growing and developing. For this reason, children and teens are more likely to make impulsive, risky decisions.
There are any number of laws that recognize that people under the age of 18 (minors) are different. For example, minors cannot enter into a contract, and cannot vote until they turn 18. In addition, California law generally prosecutes anyone under the age of 18 as a juvenile — rather than as an adult. As a criminal lawyer in Santa Ana, CA can explain, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as for certain violent felony offenses.
This distinction is important, as California’s juvenile justice system has different goals than the adult criminal justice system. The main goal of the juvenile system is rehabilitation — not punishment or retribution.
A new bill, introduced by State Senator Nancy Skinner, would raise the age at which individuals can be prosecuted for crimes as a juvenile from 18 to 21. Senate Bill 889 (SB 889) would mandate that individuals up to age 21 be charged as juveniles, rather than adults, for most crimes.
According to the California Department of Justice, 17,200 minors aged 17 and younger were charged with felony offenses in 2018. In that same year, 14,000 teens between the ages of 18 and 19 were charged with felony offenses. There are currently 4,000 minors detained in juvenile facilities across the state every day, and an additional 35,000 juveniles who are overseen by probation officers.
While many laws treat teens as adults once they turn 18, others consider young people to be minors until they turn 21. For example, a person must be 21 before they can legally purchase tobacco, cannabis and/or alcohol in California. This demonstrates that people under the age of 21 may not have the ability to make smart decisions when it comes to the use of these products — yet the law deems them mature enough to go to the adult criminal justice system if they commit a criminal offense.
If your child has been charged with a crime — either as an adult or a juvenile — you will want to hire an aggressive criminal lawyer in Santa Ana, CA to defend them. Having a criminal record and being incarcerated in a facility can have a detrimental effect on your child. By retaining a skilled attorney, you can reduce the chances that your teen or young adult will experience these types of consequences.
At the Chambers Law Firm, we represent both adults and juveniles who have been charged with criminal offenses. Our team of legal professionals is both experienced and compassionate. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation, contact us today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com.
