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Public Defender's Office
Public Defender's Office

16 years old and older

​​​Youth that are 16 years and older may be held at juvenile hall, may be charged with criminal offenses, and may be asked to participate in various programs run by the juvenile probation department. 

Youth that are 16 years and older may also have their records sealed once they satisfy all of the requirements.

If a youth is 16 years old or older at the time of the commitment of an offense that is determined to be a serious or violent felony, their juvenile adjudication may count as a “strike” under the California Three Strikes law. 

How do I know if my felony offense could be considered a strike?

  • the offense is listed in Penal Code § 1192.7(c) or
  • the offense is listed in Penal Code § 667.5(c) and
  • the offense is listed in Welfare & Institutions Code § 707(b) (often called a “707(b) offense”). 

Youth 16 years or older who are charged with a juvenile strike may be subject to a “transfer hearing,” where their case may be heard in adult criminal court.  The consequences of a WIC. 707(b) offense, including commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), are also triggered once a youth is 16 years old or older.​