Does the mens rea concept affect the way the courts deal with juveniles?
Answer THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. Yes, the court, “juvenile court” that is deal with juveniles who commit crimes differently from adult court. However, some states like the state of Texas for example, has been know to prosecute juvenile crimes to their fullest extend, even by administering executions; the death penalty. Mens rea the concept of knowing right from wrong is usually assessed when dealing with juveniles who because of their age where not able to make the distinction of their act as to it being right or wrong in the eyes of society and under prescription of law. Certain technicalities apply however to the mens rea defense in prosecuting juveniles just as well as it fails the defense in certain cases where juveniles where punished equal to adults. Keep in touch Christine Rivera, MS.
