Bahamas

8.(3) Where a child is brought before a juvenile court charged with any offence other than homicide the case shall be finally disposed of in the juvenile court.

(4) Where a young person is brought before a juvenile court charged with any indictable offence other than homicide and the court considers that it is expedient, in the interests of the young person, to deal summarily with the case, the court shall put to the young person the following question, telling him that he may consult his parent or guardian before replying: "Do you wish to be tried by the court or by a jury?" and the court shall explain the meaning of being so tried and the place where the trial would be held.

(5) Where a child or young person is brought before a juvenile court charged with homicide, or where a young person is brought before a juvenile court charged with any other indictable offence and either the court does not consider it expedient to deal with the case summarily or the person charged does not agree to be tried by the juvenile court, the court shall remit the case to a magistrate to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Magistrates Act, the Criminal Procedure Code Act and the Penal Code.


 

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

Ley 2026 (1999)

Brasil

ECA Lei 8069 (1990)

A pattern of repeated, serious violent offences is added to the list of offences that give rise to the presumption of an adult sentence.

The age at which the presumption of an adult sentence applies is lowered to 14. However, provinces have the authority to set the age at 15 or 16.The effect is that if a province chooses to set the age at 16, there would be no change from the YOA.

If the Crown notifies the youth court that it will not be seeking an adult sentence for a presumptive offence, the court may not impose an adult sentence.

The test for an adult sentence requires the court to determine whether a youth sentence would be of sufficient length to hold the young person accountable. The accountability of the young person must be consistent with the greater dependency of young persons and their reduced level of maturity. If a youth sentence would be of sufficient length to hold the young person accountable, the court must impose a youth sentence.

A young person under age 18 who receives an adult sentence is to be placed in a youth facility unless it would not be in the best interests of the young person or would jeopardize the safety of others.

61. The lieutenant governor in council of a province may by order fix an age greater than fourteen years but not more than sixteen years for the purpose of the application of the provisions of this Act relating to presumptive offences.

62. An adult sentence shall be imposed on a young person who is found guilty of an indictable offence for which an adult is liable to imprisonment for a term of more than two years in the following cases:

(a) in the case of a presumptive offence, if the youth justice court makes an order under subsection 70(2) or paragraph 72(1)(b); or

(b) in any other case, if the youth justice court makes an order under subsection 64(5) or paragraph 72(1)(b) in relation to an offence committed after the young person attained the age of fourteen years.

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Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuando en un mismo delito intervengan uno o más menores con uno o varios adultos, las causas se separarán y los expedientes de los mayores de edad se remitirán a la jurisdicción penal de adultos. Para mantener en lo posible la conexidad en estos casos, los distintos tribunales quedarán obligados a remitirse, recíprocamente, copias de las pruebas y las actuaciones pertinentes, firmadas por el secretario.

Chile

Dominica

Ecuador

El Salvador

Granada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haïti

Art. 51.- «Lorsque les circonstances de la cause et la personnalité du prévenu ou de l'accusé de plus de 13 ans exigent une condamnation pénale, le jugement sera prononcé ainsi qu'il suit, sous réserve, le cas échéant de la faculté pour le Juge compétent d'écarter l'excuse atténuante de minorité.»

a) «S'il a encouru la peine des travaux forcés à perpétuité, il sera astreint à huit ans de traitement dans un Centre d'Éducation corrective de l'État. (Ainsi modifié par la loi du 7 Sept. 1961).»

b) «S'il a encouru la peine des travaux forcés à temps, de la détention ou de la réclusion, il sera soumis à un traitement de trois ans au plus dans un Centre Professionnel spécialisé de l'État.»

Art. 52.- «Dans tous les cas, il pourra être décidé que le mineur sera placé jusqu’à un certain âge sous le régime de la liberté surveillée qui sera ci-après déterminé.» (Ainsi modifié par la Loi du 7 Sept. 1961).

Honduras

Si en una causa seguida contra mayores de dieciocho (18) años aparecen implicados niños, éstos se pondrán a disposición del correspondiente Juzgado de Letras de la Niñez o del que haga sus veces.

Jamaica

México

Nicaragua

Panamá

Paraguay

Perú

Saint Kitts & Nevis

Saint Lucia

St Vincent

Suriname

Trinidad & Tobago

Uruguay

Venezuela