Utah Juvenile Delinquency: 
Adult Charges. Under 18-year-old children charged with crimes is called juvenile delinquency. Adults charged with crimes under Utah’s criminal code are criminal charges. Sometimes on egregious offense, juveniles can be tried as adults.
Juvenile Petitions. Juveniles normally are petitioned to a Utah juvenile court with delinquency allegations. Adults are charged with crimes by information, summons or citations in Utah justice and district courts.
Most juvenile delinquency is filed and dealt with in a Utah Juvenile Court. These classic offenses include retail theft, sexual offenses, violent crimes and drug and alcohol offenses.
The following Infractions, Class B and Class C Misdemeanors delinquency offenses committed by a 16-17-year-old can be filed in a Utah Justice Court.
(i). Poaching/Hunting/Fishing Crimes. Title 23A, Wildlife Resources Act.
(ii). Registration, Titling, Plates, Etc. Title 41, Chapter 1a, Motor Vehicle Act.
(iii). The Utah Traffic Code. Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code, except Title 41, Chapter 6a, Part 5, Driving. All your classic speeding, turn, signal violations of the Utah Traffic Code, except DUIs and Reckless Driving.
(iv). No Insurance Tickets. Title 41, Chapter 12a, Financial Responsibility of Motor Vehicle Owners and Operators Act.
(v). ATVs, Off-Road Vehicles Violations. Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles.
(vi). Boating Offenses, Non-Boating DUIs. Title 73, Chapter 18, State Boating Act, except for an offense under Section 73-18-12.
(vii). More Boating Offenses. Title 73, Chapter 18a, Boating – Litter and Pollution Control.
(viii). Boating Recreation Offenses. Title 73, Chapter 18b, Water Safety.
(ix). Boating Insurance Violations. Title 73, Chapter 18c, Financial Responsibility of Motorboat Owners and Operators Act.
(x). Driving license offenses. Class C misdemeanor and infraction violations of Title 53, Chapter 3, Part 2, Driver Licensing Act.
Transfer Back to Juvenile Court from a Justice Court.
Even if a charge is filed in the justice court rather than the juvenile court, the justice court can still transfer it back to the juvenile court if it is in the child’s best interest. See Utah Code 78A-6-106(4) (2024).
