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Speak Up! - View Question #251 |
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Question: What is the difference between the laws for kids and adults?
Answer: Generally, kids (i.e., people under 18) and adults (i.e., people over 18) are subject to the same laws and enjoy the same rights under the law. There are, however, exceptions. For example, minors may not marry without parental consent, and if they are under 16, they must have judicial consent as well (ARS § 25-102). There are also the obvious differences such as kids not having the right to vote or to serve in the armed forces, kids not having the privilege to gamble or to purchase alcohol (which also applies to 18-21 year olds), and the requirement that minors attend school until they are 16.
With regard to crime, kids are subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. But, if a juvenile is 15 or older and is charged with a serious crime like murder or forcible sexual assault, he can be tried as an adult (ARS § 13-501).
Adults can get harsher penalties for certain crimes if the victim is a minor. For example, if a murder occurs in the course of sexual assault of a minor, even if the murder was not intentional, it is considered first degree murder (ARS § 13-1105(2)).
To sum it up, the law tends to protect kids more than it protects adults. At the same time, adults have certain rights and privileges that kids do not.
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