Legal Definitions - automatic-transfer statute

An automatic-transfer statute is a law that requires a juvenile to be tried as an adult in a criminal court for certain criminal acts. Every state has some form of transfer statute.

For example, if a 16-year-old is accused of committing a serious crime like murder or rape, an automatic-transfer statute may require that they be tried as an adult in a criminal court instead of a juvenile court.

It's important to note that the Supreme Court has ruled that a juvenile cannot be transferred to criminal court under a discretionary statute without a hearing, effective assistance of counsel, and a statement of reasons.

There are also discretionary-transfer statutes, which allow the prosecutor and judge to decide whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult for certain offenses. Reverse transfer statutes allow a criminal court to return certain cases to juvenile court.

Overall, automatic-transfer statutes are controversial because they can result in juveniles being sentenced to adult prisons, which can have long-lasting negative effects on their lives.