Can Juveniles be Prosecuted Under State Domestic Violence Laws?

This brief report highlights state variations in the application of domestic violence laws to juveniles. ‘Since the adoption of mandatory arrest policies and laws for responding to escalating incidents of family and domestic violence, many jurisdictions have struggled to define the manner in which juvenile perpetrators should be handled in these often complex and volatile family settings. Without the full context of the family dynamic, youth can often be arrested under these mandatory laws as the perpetrator, when in fact they may be defending themselves or another family member from an abusive situation. In an effort to help clarify this often murky area of the law, many states have enacted domestic violence laws that specifically apply to juveniles.’ [From Snapshot] Currently, 27 jurisdictions apply domestic violence laws to juveniles, and some have a minimum statutory age limit.

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