[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/raise-the-age-law-in-north-carolina\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/raise-the-age-law-in-north-carolina\/","headline":"North Carolina’s Raise the Age Law for Juveniles","name":"North Carolina’s Raise the Age Law for Juveniles","description":"North Carolina is the last state to adopt a \u201craise the age\u201d law. Under the new law, teenagers under the age of 18 will no longer be automatically tried as adults in court.\u00a0Session Law 2019-186\u00a0was enacted on August 1, 2019, and will go into effect on December 1, 2019. Changes Under the Raise the Age...","datePublished":"2019-11-04","dateModified":"2025-07-29","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/author\/joshvalentine\/#Person","name":"Caulder & Valentine Law Firm, PLLC","url":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/author\/joshvalentine\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59a8c7db8986bb59b244a84f92fdcc82cc219363084d68db67334e89ddd79836?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/59a8c7db8986bb59b244a84f92fdcc82cc219363084d68db67334e89ddd79836?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Caulder & Valentine Law Firm, PLLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/caulder-and-valentine-law-form-logo-2x-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/caulder-and-valentine-law-form-logo-2x-1.png","width":766,"height":142}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/caulder-valentine.png","url":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/caulder-valentine.png","width":718,"height":672},"url":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/raise-the-age-law-in-north-carolina\/","about":["Criminal Law"],"wordCount":467,"articleBody":"North Carolina is the last state to adopt a \u201craise the age\u201d law. Under the new law, teenagers under the age of 18 will no longer be automatically tried as adults in court.\u00a0Session Law 2019-186\u00a0was enacted on August 1, 2019, and will go into effect on December 1, 2019.Changes Under the Raise the Age LawA delinquent juvenile still includes 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes and infractions. However, under the new law, Chapter 20\u00a0motor vehicle offenses\u00a0will be excluded from juvenile jurisdiction.Some juveniles will be excluded from juvenile jurisdiction, including those who have previously been transferred to and convicted in superior court. However, juveniles who have been convicted for motor vehicle violations punishable as a misdemeanor or infraction will be excepted from the exclusion. Felony motor vehicle violations and misdemeanor\u00a0DWI convictions\u00a0will be excluded from juvenile jurisdiction.Individuals under the age of 18 who are charged with Class H or I felonies will require a transfer hearing before they are transferred to adult court. Juveniles charged with Class A-G felonies will be transferred to adult court upon notice of an indictment or finding of probable cause. In these cases, a probable cause hearing must be conducted within 90 days of the juvenile’s first appearance. All other complaints will begin in juvenile court.When charges are remanded to district court for juvenile adjudication, the court shall expunge the remanded charges. The court will also order expunction of DNA records related to the remanded charges.Second Chance for Young PeopleAdvocates for the new law believe the change will keep communities safer and allow young people to have a second chance at avoiding a life as a career criminal. According to\u00a0research, teens who are arrested are less likely to reoffend if they are prosecuted as minors. Additionally, young people who are incarcerated in adult prisons are at a greater risk of being sexually assaulted in prison than adult offenders.A criminal record can be very harmful to a young person’s future. A felony conviction can prevent a young person from accessing financial aid for college, limit their job options, and even restrict their housing options. By\u00a0treating kids in the juvenile system\u00a0instead of the adult justice system, young people may be more likely to recover and lead a successful life.Young People Arrested in North CarolinaThe new Raise the Age law may give more flexibility for young people\u00a0arrested on criminal charges in North Carolina\u00a0to avoid a permanent criminal record. If your child was arrested for a misdemeanor or felony, talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Caulder & Valentine Law Firm, PLLC, we have helped young people and their families deal with criminal charges to stay out of jail and avoid a criminal record.\u00a0Contact us today\u00a0in Shelby for a consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"North Carolina’s Raise the Age Law for Juveniles","item":"https:\/\/www.cauldervalentine.com\/blog\/raise-the-age-law-in-north-carolina\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]