This summer, our state passed a law stating that juveniles who are 16 and 17 will no longer be automatically charged as adults for misdemeanors and low-level felonies. We were the last state in the entire country to “raise the age” of juveniles in court, so it’s something that is long overdue.

Unfortunately, this law doesn’t fully go into effect until December 2019 – more than two years from now. So in the meantime, 16- and 17-year-olds can still be charged as adults.

Why Did North Carolina Finally Decide to “Raise the Age”?

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When your kid is accused of a crime, your first response may be to worry about the consequences. Will your child go to jail? Will they be able to get into college, or get a good job? Will they be taken away from you?

All kids make mistakes, and North Carolina understands that a mistake made by a minor does not always indicate that they are a dangerous person or intend to lead a life of crime. While minors aged 16 or older who are accused of a criminal offense must go through [...]