At what age can a person not be convicted of an offense due to infancy?

A person cannot be convicted of an offense due to the principle of infancy before the age of 13. This principle acknowledges that young children may not possess the necessary mental capacity to understand the consequences of their actions or differentiate between right and wrong. In many jurisdictions, including the context of the Chicago Police Department, the age of 13 is a critical threshold.

The law typically holds that individuals under this age are presumed to lack sufficient maturity and judgment to be held criminally responsible for their actions. Thus, any criminal charges against a child who is under 13 years old would lead to consideration of their age as a significant factor, potentially resulting in dismissal of charges or alternative adjudication outside of the traditional criminal justice system.

In contrast, options stating ages younger than 13 do not reflect the legal standards that recognize the lack of culpability in younger children. As such, the provision at age 13 aligns with legislative definitions aimed at fostering rehabilitation rather than punishment for minors.