§5032 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Federal courts may not take a case against a juvenile accused of delinquency, except for certain minor crimes at sea that carry at most six months in jail, unless the U.S. Attorney General investigates and certifies to a federal district court that one of three things is true: the state court has no authority or refuses to handle the case; the state lacks programs and services that meet the juvenile’s needs; or the crime is a federal violent felony or certain listed drug or weapons offenses and there is a substantial federal interest in the case. If the Attorney General does not make that certification, the juvenile must be turned over to the proper state authorities. “State” here includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions. If the juvenile is not surrendered, the case goes to a federal district court, which can meet at any time and place, and the Attorney General brings charges as allowed by law. A juvenile who is not given to state authorities is usually handled under the juvenile rules here unless the juvenile asks in writing, with a lawyer’s advice, to be tried as an adult. For juveniles 15 or older who commit certain violent felonies or specific drug or gun crimes after their 15th birthday, the Attorney General may ask a federal court to transfer the case for adult prosecution; the court must hold a hearing and decide if transfer is in the interest of justice. For some violent crimes (and if a firearm was used), the law lowers those age cutoffs to 13. People subject only to tribal criminal jurisdiction in Indian country are not covered by that transfer rule unless their tribe chooses it. A juvenile 16 or older who commits certain serious violent or listed offenses after turning 16 and who has earlier qualifying offenses must be transferred to federal court for prosecution. Courts must make written findings on factors like the youth’s age, background, maturity, prior record, the offense’s nature, past treatment and responses, and available programs. Leadership in drug or gun crimes weighs toward transfer but is not required. The juvenile, parents or guardians, and counsel must get reasonable notice of transfer hearings, and the juvenile must have a lawyer at the hearing and at other critical stages. Once a juvenile pleads guilty or the trial evidence starts for an alleged act, no further juvenile or criminal proceedings on that act are allowed. Statements made before or during a transfer hearing cannot be used in later criminal trials. If a transferred juvenile is not convicted of the transfer crime or another qualifying crime, further proceedings return to the juvenile system. A transfer or hearing cannot happen until prior juvenile records are received or the juvenile court certifies there are none or explains why they are unavailable. When a juvenile is found delinquent, the specific acts must be listed in the official record.

Title 18, §5032

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A juvenile alleged to have committed an act of juvenile delinquency, other than a violation of law committed within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for which the maximum authorized term of imprisonment does not exceed six months, shall not be proceeded against in any court of the United States unless the Attorney General, after investigation, certifies to the appropriate district court of the United States that (1) the juvenile court or other appropriate court of a State does not have jurisdiction or refuses to assume jurisdiction over said juvenile with respect to such alleged act of juvenile delinquency, (2) the State does not have available programs and services adequate for the needs of juveniles, or (3) the offense charged is a crime of violence that is a felony or an offense described in section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841), or section 1002(a), 1003, 1005, 1009, or 1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 955, 959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)), section 922(x) or section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title, and that there is a substantial Federal interest in the case or the offense to warrant the exercise of Federal jurisdiction. If the Attorney General does not so certify, such juvenile shall be surrendered to the appropriate legal authorities of such State. For purposes of this section, the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. If an alleged juvenile delinquent is not surrendered to the authorities of a State pursuant to this section, any proceedings against him shall be in an appropriate district court of the United States. For such purposes, the court may be convened at any time and place within the district, in chambers or otherwise. The Attorney General shall proceed by information or as authorized under section 3401(g) of this title, and no criminal prosecution shall be instituted for the alleged act of juvenile delinquency except as provided below. A juvenile who is alleged to have committed an act of juvenile delinquency and who is not surrendered to State authorities shall be proceeded against under this chapter unless he has requested in writing upon advice of counsel to be proceeded against as an adult, except that, with respect to a juvenile fifteen years and older alleged to have committed an act after his fifteenth birthday which if committed by an adult would be a felony that is a crime of violence or an offense described in section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841), or section 1002(a), 1005, or 1009 of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 955, 959), or section 922(x) of this title, or in section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title, criminal prosecution on the basis of the alleged act may be begun by motion to transfer of the Attorney General in the appropriate district court of the United States, if such court finds, after hearing, such transfer would be in the interest of justice. In the application of the preceding sentence, if the crime of violence is an offense under section 113(a), 113(b), 113(c), 1111, 1113, or, if the juvenile possessed a firearm during the offense, section 2111, 2113, 2241(a), or 2241(c), “thirteen” shall be substituted for “fifteen” and “thirteenth” shall be substituted for “fifteenth”. Notwithstanding section 1152 and 1153, no person subject to the criminal jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government shall be subject to the preceding sentence for any offense the Federal jurisdiction for which is predicated solely on Indian country (as defined in section 1151), and which has occurred within the boundaries of such Indian country, unless the governing body of the tribe has elected that the preceding sentence have effect over land and persons subject to its criminal jurisdiction. However, a juvenile who is alleged to have committed an act after his sixteenth birthday which if committed by an adult would be a felony offense that has as an element thereof the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another, or that, by its very nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person of another may be used in committing the offense, or would be an offense described in section 32, 81, 844(d), (e), (f), (h), (i) or 2275 of this title, subsection (b)(1)(A), (B), or (C), (d), or (e) of section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act, or section 1002(a), 1003, 1009, or 1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)), and who has previously been found guilty of an act which if committed by an adult would have been one of the offenses set forth in this paragraph or an offense in violation of a State felony statute that would have been such an offense if a circumstance giving rise to Federal jurisdiction had existed, shall be transferred to the appropriate district court of the United States for criminal prosecution. Evidence of the following factors shall be considered, and findings with regard to each factor shall be made in the record, in assessing whether a transfer would be in the interest of justice: the age and social background of the juvenile; the nature of the alleged offense; the extent and nature of the juvenile’s prior delinquency record; the juvenile’s present intellectual development and psychological maturity; the nature of past treatment efforts and the juvenile’s response to such efforts; the availability of programs designed to treat the juvenile’s behavioral problems. In considering the nature of the offense, as required by this paragraph, the court shall consider the extent to which the juvenile played a leadership role in an organization, or otherwise influenced other persons to take part in criminal activities, involving the use or distribution of controlled substances or firearms. Such a factor, if found to exist, shall weigh in favor of a transfer to adult status, but the absence of this factor shall not preclude such a transfer. Reasonable notice of the transfer hearing shall be given to the juvenile, his parents, guardian, or custodian and to his counsel. The juvenile shall be assisted by counsel during the transfer hearing, and at every other critical stage of the proceedings. Once a juvenile has entered a plea of guilty or the proceeding has reached the stage that evidence has begun to be taken with respect to a crime or an alleged act of juvenile delinquency subsequent criminal prosecution or juvenile proceedings based upon such alleged act of delinquency shall be barred. Statements made by a juvenile prior to or during a transfer hearing under this section shall not be admissible at subsequent criminal prosecutions. Whenever a juvenile transferred to district court under this section is not convicted of the crime upon which the transfer was based or another crime which would have warranted transfer had the juvenile been initially charged with that crime, further proceedings concerning the juvenile shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. A juvenile shall not be transferred to adult prosecution nor shall a hearing be held under section 5037 (disposition after a finding of juvenile delinquency) until any prior juvenile court records of such juvenile have been received by the court, or the clerk of the juvenile court has certified in writing that the juvenile has no prior record, or that the juvenile’s record is unavailable and why it is unavailable. Whenever a juvenile is adjudged delinquent pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the specific acts which the juvenile has been found to have committed shall be described as part of the official record of the proceedings and part of the juvenile’s official record.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 922 (June 16, 1938, ch. 486, § 2, 52 Stat. 765). The final sentence of said section 922 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was incorporated in section 5033 of this title. Changes were made in arrangement and phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294, in first par., inserted “section 922(x)” before “or section 924(b)” and struck out “or (x)” after “or (h)”, and in third par., inserted “or as authorized under section 3401(g) of this title” after “shall proceed by information”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 150002(1), substituted “924(b), (g), or (h)” for “922(p)” in first par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 110201(c)(2)(A), inserted “or (x)” after “922(p)” in first par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 140001, in fourth par., substituted “. In the application of the preceding sentence, if the crime of violence is an offense under section 113(a), 113(b), 113(c), 1111, 1113, or, if the juvenile possessed a firearm during the offense, section 2111, 2113, 2241(a), or 2241(c), ‘thirteen’ shall be substituted for ‘fifteen’ and ‘thirteenth’ shall be substituted for ‘fifteenth’. Notwithstanding section 1152 and 1153, no person subject to the criminal jurisdiction of an Indian tribal government shall be subject to the preceding sentence for any offense the Federal jurisdiction for which is predicated solely on Indian country (as defined in section 1151), and which has occurred within the boundaries of such Indian country, unless the governing body of the tribe has elected that the preceding sentence have effect over land and persons subject to its criminal jurisdiction. However” for “; however”. Pub. L. 103–322, §§ 110201(c)(2)(B), 150002(2), inserted “or section 922(x) of this title, or in section 924(b), (g), or (h) of this title,” before “criminal prosecution on the basis” in fourth par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 150002(3), inserted at end of fifth par. “In considering the nature of the offense, as required by this paragraph, the court shall consider the extent to which the juvenile played a leadership role in an organization, or otherwise influenced other persons to take part in criminal activities, involving the use or distribution of controlled substances or firearms. Such a factor, if found to exist, shall weigh in favor of a transfer to adult status, but the absence of this factor shall not preclude such a transfer.” Pub. L. 103–322, § 140002, substituted “A juvenile shall not be transferred to adult prosecution nor shall a hearing be held under section 5037 (disposition after a finding of juvenile delinquency) until” for “Any proceedings against a juvenile under this chapter or as an adult shall not be commenced until” in tenth par. 1990—Pub. L. 101–647 inserted definition of “State” at end of second par., struck out “or the District of Columbia” after “to the authorities of a State” in third par., and substituted “offenses set forth in this paragraph” for “offenses set forth in this subsection” in fourth par. 1988—Pub. L. 100–690, § 6467(a)(1), substituted “section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841), or section 1002(a), 1003, 1005, 1009, or 1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 955, 959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)), or section 922(p) of this title,” for “section 841, 952(a), 955, or 959 of title 21,” in first par. Pub. L. 100–690, § 6467(a)(2), substituted “section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841), or section 1002(a), 1005, or 1009 of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 955, 959),” for “section 841, 952(a), 955, or 959 of title 21,” and inserted “subsection (b)(1)(A), (B), or (C), (d), or (e) of section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act, or section 1002(a), 1003, 1009, or 1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)),” after “2275 of this title,” in fourth par. 1984—Pub. L. 98–473, § 1201(a), amended first par. generally, inserting “, other than a violation of law committed within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States for which the maximum authorized term of imprisonment does not exceed six months,” before “shall not be proceeded”, inserting “(1)” before “the juvenile court”, striking out “(1)” before “does not have”, inserting “the State” after “(2)”, and inserting “, or (3) the offense charged is a crime of violence that is a felony, or an offense described in section 841, 952(a), 955, or 959 of title 21, and that there is a substantial Federal interest in the case or the offense to warrant the exercise of Federal jurisdiction.” Pub. L. 98–473, § 1201(b)(1), which directed the amendment of fourth par. by substituting “that is a crime of violence or an offense described in section 841, 952(a), 955, or 959 of title 21” for “punishable by a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment or more, life imprisonment or death” was executed by substituting the quoted wording for “punishable by a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment or more, life imprisonment, or death” as the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 98–473, § 1201(b)(2), substituted “fifteen” for “sixteen” and “fifteenth” for “sixteenth” in fourth par. Pub. L. 98–473, § 1201(b)(3), inserted provision at end of fourth par., relating to transfer of a juvenile who is alleged to have committed certain acts after his sixteenth birthday to the appropriate district court of the United States for criminal prosecution. Pub. L. 98–473, § 1201(c), added three pars. at end of section relating to juveniles not convicted of crimes in district court, reception of prior juveniles court records by the court, and description of the specific act of delinquency for the record. 1974—Pub. L. 93–415 amended section generally, substituting “Delinquency proceedings in district courts; transfer for criminal prosecution”, for “Proceedings against juvenile delinquent” in section catchline, inserting provisions relating to certification to, and procedures in, district courts, transfer upon motion by Attorney General with respect to a juvenile sixteen years and older, factors considered in transfer, notice of transfer, barring of subsequent criminal or juvenile delinquency proceedings upon entering plea of guilty or upon taking of evidence, and admissibility of statements by a juvenile in subsequent criminal prosecution, and substituting provision relating to consent upon advice of counsel for treatment as an adult, for provision requiring consent for treatment as a juvenile.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Repeals

Pub. L. 93–415, title V, § 502, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1134, cited as a credit to this section, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–385, title III, § 307, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5152.

§5032 Delinquency Proceedings in District Courts; Transfer for Criminal Prosecution