Juvenile Crime vs. Regular Crime
Juvenile crimes are defined by the person committing the crime. If someone commits a crime at a time in which they are under the age of eighteen, they are committing a juvenile crime. If someone is seventeen when the crime occurs but eighteen when they go to trial, they are still tried as a minor. In other words, juvenile crimes are defined by when the actual crimes occurred (not when the trial takes place). These crimes are tried and weighed differently than regular crimes. Offenders may have rights that adult criminals do not, or may be exempt from certain punishments due to their age. Read on to find out more about juvenile crime in West Virginia.