EIRP Proceedings, Vol 15, No 1 (2020)

Abstract

Regarding the age from which the criminal responsibility of the minor begins, it is noteworthy that the age limits that define the minor depend on each legal system and take into account the economic, social, political and cultural system of each state. Consequently, the minority comprises an age group between 7 and 18 years or older. For example, in the United States, the demarcation line between minors and adults differs from state to state and, sometimes, even within the same jurisdiction, depending on the context. If, in a certain state, an 18-year-old can sign a contract, he or she cannot buy alcohol before reaching the age of 21. Therefore, each American state has its own laws that define the concept of minor and adult. Thus, in the state of Massachusetts, any child between the ages of 7 and 17 “who violates an ordinance or municipal decision or commits any offense under a Commonwealth law” is considered a juvenile offender - unless he or she is charged with murder or crime, in which case shall be treated as an adult at the age of 14 years, although there is no reason to explain why the same defendant should be treated as minor when being charged with theft and as an adult when charged with murder (Semenescu & Semenescu, 2009, p. 50).