Criminal attorney, can minors also be subject to criminal punishment?

Hello. This is the criminal specialist attorney from Daeryun (LLC) Law Firm.

For minors as well, whether criminal punishment applies varies by age.

Those aged 18 to 19 can receive imprisonment, confinement, or fines under criminal law, just like adults.

Those aged 14 to 17 can also receive criminal punishment under criminal law, and may also receive protective dispositions such as community service orders.

However, if an adult commits a crime corresponding to the death penalty or life imprisonment, instead of the death penalty or life imprisonment, the maximum sentence is limited to 15 years.

On the other hand, those aged 10 to 13 receive protective dispositions under the Juvenile Act, such as detention in a juvenile detention center, rather than imprisonment, confinement, or fines under criminal law.

The details may vary depending on the exact age of your nephew and the content of the case, so it is safe to consult with a criminal attorney after confirming the specific situation.

The outcome can vary greatly depending on how you respond initially, so we recommend seeking the assistance of a criminal attorney as soon as possible.