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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 14§ 602 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction

§ 602 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 602 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction

Key Takeaways

  • •Kids aged 12 to 17 who break the law (except curfew rules) can go to juvenile court.
  • •Kids under 12 can only go to juvenile court for very serious crimes like murder or violent sexual crimes.
  • •The court can decide to make the kid a 'ward of the court,' which means the court will supervise them.

Example

A 10-year-old steals a bike from a store.

The court usually won’t handle this because the kid is under 12 and stealing isn’t one of the very serious crimes listed. But if a 15-year-old steals the same bike, they could go to juvenile court.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 602 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction

(a) Except as provided in Section 707, any minor who is between 12 years of age and 17 years of age, inclusive, when he or she violates any law of this state or of the United States or any ordinance of any city or county of this state defining crime other than an ordinance establishing a curfew based solely on age, is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court. (b) Any minor who is under 12 years of age when he or she is alleged to have committed any of the following offenses is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court: (1) Murder. (2) Rape by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury. (3) Sodomy by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury. (4) Oral copulation by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury. (5) Sexual penetration by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 1006, Sec. 2. (SB 439) Effective January 1, 2019. Note: This section was amended November 8, 2016, by initiative Proposition 57.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

ordinanceviolencenetcrimeinjuryoffensejurisdictionin california

Related Statutes

  • § 603 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Requirement
  • § 204.5 Minor Name Disclosure Rules
  • § 604 Juvenile Court Transfer Procedure
  • § 605 Juvenile Court Statute Suspension
  • § 606 Juvenile Court Criminal Exemption

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 602.
View Official Source