MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

A criminal is considered an adult at what age?

1. 17 years old

2. 18 years old

3. 21 years old

4. 16 years old

The correct answer is: 17 years old

A person is typically considered a criminal adult at the age of 18 years old. This age is significant because it is recognized as the legal age of majority in many jurisdictions, meaning that individuals at this age are fully responsible for their actions under criminal law and can be tried as adults for any offenses they commit. In the context of the options provided, an individual who is 17 years old would still be classified as a minor in most states, and thus may be subject to juvenile laws rather than adult criminal laws. Once a person reaches the age of 18, they lose the protections offered to juveniles and can face the full extent of adult criminal justice system consequences. An important aspect of this definition is that while some states may have different laws regarding the treatment of young offenders (sometimes allowing those as young as 16 or 17 to be tried as adults for certain serious offenses), the general rule across the majority of jurisdictions is that adulthood in the legal sense begins at 18.