What happens if a 12 year old gets a felony?
Asked by: Mr. Adalberto Kiehn PhD | Last update: November 20, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (69 votes)
If a child is adjudicated, a record of their arrest can remain active for years. This can dramatically affect their chances of a good education and a career. Juvenile Court is not always more lenient than adult court. Certain serious offenses allow a prosecutor discretion if a child will be charged as an adult.
Can a child be charged with a felony?
Juveniles are treated differently by the California criminal justice system, but they can face felony charges. If your child is facing a criminal charge, you shouldn't wait to consult with an experienced California juvenile criminal defense attorney.
What happens when someone under 18 commits a felony in the US?
A minor, someone charged with committing a crime when under age 18, begins his or her case in juvenile court. If the minor is charged with committing a felony when age 15 through 17, his or her case may or must be transferred to adult court (the regular criminal docket in Superior Court) depending on the charge.
Do felonies go away if you're a minor?
Many people believe that if you commit a crime as a minor, your criminal record is automatically sealed or erased once you turn 18. However, this is not necessarily true. In California, juvenile records do not automatically disappear when you become an adult.
What is the smallest felony?
In contrast, a Class E Felony is the least serious felony because it carries between 1-5 years in jail. Similarly, misdemeanor crimes are also classified by a letter grade. Class A misdemeanors are the most serious. They carry up to one year in jail.
My child was arrested for a felony. How do I help?
Does a felony mean jail time?
Understanding Felony Sentences in California
These include offenses like grand theft, certain drug offenses, and violent crimes. Traditionally, felonies carry the possibility of a state prison sentence, fines, or both. However, not all felony convictions lead to jail time.
What is a Level 1 felony?
Class A/Class 1.
This category is home to the most serious felonies to be committed, like first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, arson, armed robbery, or rape. Punishment is also the most severe, often involving more than ten years to life in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000 or more.
Do juvenile felonies carry over?
Juvenile records are automatically expunged when the individual reaches 21 years of age, unless the person was previously classified as a serious or habitual juvenile offender, or he had been committed to a juvenile correctional facility or juvenile prison.
Do felonies clear when you turn 18?
Contrary to common misperception, juvenile records are not automatically sealed once you turn 18 unless you obtain a judicial order to seal and destroy them under WIC 781.
Can a 12 year old commit a crime?
Any child over the age of 12 may be charged with a felony in California. Children under the age of 12 may be charged only for extremely serious crimes like murder or rape. Even in felony cases, virtually all children are charged as children.
What is the youngest age to go to jail?
There is no minimum age for criminal responsibility. Children below age 14 can only face incarceration if they are proven to have enough discernment between right and wrong. Incarceration starting at age 14. Other measures applied for ages 12–13.
How old is Juvenile age?
A "juvenile" is a person who has not attained his eighteenth birthday, and "juvenile delinquency" is the violation of a law of the United States committed by a person prior to his eighteenth birthday which would have been a crime if committed by an adult.
Can a 12 year old be charged with a felony in Texas?
If your child is between the ages of 10 and 17, they are considered a juvenile but can still face charges for anything between a Class C Misdemeanor to a serious felony.
Can a parent be charged if a child commits a crime?
The short answer is yes. California's “parental responsibility law” could impose criminal charges and penalties on a parent for the illegal actions of their children. Further, parents can also be held liable in civil court for damage or harm caused by their children.
Does 3 count felony mean?
In the legal realm, being charged with “3 counts” signifies that an individual faces three separate allegations either for identical criminal offenses across three instances or toward three distinct victims.
Will a 10 year old felony show on a background check?
Under Cal. Civ. Code 1786.18(a)(7), California mandates that a conviction can't be reported when it's older than seven years. Arrests that didn't lead to convictions can't be reported regardless of how much time has elapsed.
What is considered a minor felony?
A minor felony would be drug possession or distribution, damage to property, theft, fruad, burglary. Non violent and especially victimless crimes. Where as major felonies would be violent in nature such as robbery, aggravated assualt, sexual assualt, manslaughter, and murder.
Do background checks show under 18?
While it's likely that juvenile crimes won't show up on a background check, it depends on state laws. For example, in 2016, California amended labor laws to make juvenile criminal history inaccessible to employers.
How bad is a felony 6?
A class 6 felony is the least serious of all felony charges. There are many different things that can be considered class 6 felonies, from promoting a pyramid scheme to practicing a profession as an electrician without the correct training or an active license.
What is a class C felony?
Class C felonies, also severe crimes, are punishable by under twenty-five but at least ten or more years imprisonment. Common offenses include drug trafficking crimes, depending on the amount of drugs, and certain firearm offenses.
What are the lowest level felonies?
Low level felonies may not carry mandatory jail time. Property-related crimes such as felony larceny, embezzlement and obtaining property via false pretenses can be considered low-level Class H or Class I felonies. Mid-level felonies are comprised of some Class E, Class F or Class G felonies.
What is the least bad felony?
Felonies are classified based on their severity and related punishments. In general, Class 1 felonies are the most serious, while Class 6 felonies are the least serious.
How to avoid jail time for felony?
- #1: Negotiating plea bargains. Pleading out can be a strategic move. ...
- #2: Rehabilitation and counseling. ...
- #3: Character references. ...
- #4: Diversion programs. ...
- #5: Demonstrating remorse.
Is a felony forever?
In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison. You can face serious obstacles until you get the conviction removed from your criminal history.
Can a 13 year old go to jail?
The Juvenile Code does not contemplate a minimal age of criminality. Ten (10) is the minimal age for secure detention of a juvenile unless it is a capital offense. Must be at least thirteen (13) years of age in order to be declared as a JSO. The age of 18 triggers adult court jurisdiction.