The State Has Discretion Whether Or Not to Charge As An Adult

›››The following content is an excerpt from a live interview with Richard Jacobs founder of my DUI Attorney dot org. The interview has been transcribed and contains information for educational purposes only. Please call Michael Munoz to get legal advice for your particular situation

Interviewer: In what cases will the state say, we’re going to charge this person as a juvenile versus an adult. Where is the discretion?

Munoz: The discretion lies with the state and it’s based on some Arizona statutes and case law. The more serious the offense, the more likely they will be inclined to charge as an adult. They can charge minors as young as 14, 15 year olds as an adult.

I mean there are a lot of murder cases where juveniles can be tried as an adult. It really just depends. If a person is 17-years old, the state is allowed to charge them as an adult if it’s serious enough offense, it’s within the their discretion. That’s why is extremely important that if your son or daughter is accused of a crime to call a lawyer immediately.

By Michael Munoz