Table of Contents
What happens if a child assaults you?
If a minor has been involved in a fight, they may be charged with assault and/or battery. As a minor in California, your child will most likely not face adult court but instead may have to attend juvenile court. The charges for assault and battery are the same regardless of age.
Can adults defend themselves from minors?
If there are no weapons involved and the minor is a teenager, even an adult has the right to defend themselves without using deadly force.
Can you defend yourself against kids?
In the United States, the typical rule of law would be to use reasonable force and follow all laws pertaining to self defense, no matter how old the attacker is – – if the threat is genuine. If you initiate an attack on a child, you could be charged with the crime of assaulting a minor.
What happens if a minor assaults another minor?
Under California law, simple assault is an attempt to commit a violent injury on another, with the present ability to do so. Simple assault is charged as a misdemeanor, with penalties of up to six months in jail (juvenile hall) and a fine of up to $1,000.
Can a child be charged with simple assault as an adult?
In most cases, it is unlikely that a child charged with a misdemeanor first offense such as simple assault would be transferred to the adult criminal justice system. A conviction for juvenile simple assault can have serious consequences, even if no formal charges are brought.
Can a 16 year old be charged as an adult?
Sometimes, children over a certain age (often 16) who are charged with serious crimes (usually felonies) may be treated as an adult. If prosecuted as an adult, the juvenile is transferred out of the juvenile justice system and into the adult criminal justice system.
What happens if you get in a fight with a minor?
For instance, if an adult gets into a confrontation with someone under the age 18 and injures the child, then, the adult could spends years in prison and thousands of dollars in fees. A common form of an offense to a minor is typically known as child abuse.
What is the crime of assault without any physical contact?
Depending on the state, in order for the crime of assault to have occurred, there may not need to be any injury to or even physical contact with the victim. For example, depending on which state you are in, hitting someone could lead to a juvenile assault charge, but so could threatening to hit someone.