A 16-year-old commits burglary two days before turning 17. After the 17th birthday but before the 18th, an officer discovers the involvement. What can the officer do?

A 16-year-old commits burglary two days before turning 17. After the 17th birthday but before the 18th, an officer discovers the involvement. What can the officer do?

• A. File charges in adult court
• B. File on the juvenile in juvenile court
• C. Do nothing
• D. Transfer to criminal court

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that jurisdiction for a juvenile’s delinquent conduct depends on when the act occurred, not when it is discovered or when the person turns 18. Since the burglary happened while the person was 16 (two days before turning 17), the case falls under juvenile court jurisdiction even if it isn’t found until after the 17th birthday. That means the officer should initiate proceedings in juvenile court to handle the delinquency case. Transferring to criminal court requires a separate waiver process and isn’t automatic based on discovery timing or age after the fact. Filing in adult court isn’t the default for an offense that occurred while the juvenile was under 17; unless the waiver procedure is properly followed, the case stays in the juvenile system.

The key idea is that jurisdiction for a juvenile’s delinquent conduct depends on when the act occurred, not when it is discovered or when the person turns 18. Since the burglary happened while the person was 16 (two days before turning 17), the case falls under juvenile court jurisdiction even if it isn’t found until after the 17th birthday. That means the officer should initiate proceedings in juvenile court to handle the delinquency case.

Transferring to criminal court requires a separate waiver process and isn’t automatic based on discovery timing or age after the fact. Filing in adult court isn’t the default for an offense that occurred while the juvenile was under 17; unless the waiver procedure is properly followed, the case stays in the juvenile system.