In your opinion what age is an adult?

Lets say the age for a certain State defining an age for a juvenile is 14 and he/she is 13 and they prosecute as an adult.
How can they draw a fine line and then say that it all differs from case to case?

It really depends on the individual. I was pretty mature at age 15, and my cousin is very immature and lives with his parents without a job and is 27. I don't think you're going to find a number for this one.

in my opinion,
an adult is a person that makes adult choices. people that make very grown up decisions like that of having sex and doing drugs are adults.
but an adult is also a person that can support themselves. they have jobs and pay taxes and bills.

an adult is a takes responsibility for the choices and decisions that they make.
they know the consequences before hand but they choose to do it and accept the outcome.
that makes an adult.

It depends on the person. Looking back I would have considered myself an adult a long time ago when I was 13-14.. that was the age (approx) that I really considered the consiquences of my actions in even menial tasks or risks.

as for why they might prosecute as an adult it really depends on the crime. Some of the more horrific crimes they may try them as an adult just to set an example or because they feel that spending a few years in juvi hall wont teach them what an actual prison sentance could.

I agree with CT. It not only depends on the person, but also on the context. I started mowing lawns when I was twelve and my father made me put money aside for my own mower. At 14 I had my own mower and a good list of regular customers. In a Financial sense I was pretty mature. On the other hand in HS I did pretty much the stupid and immature things that most of my friends did. (I don't have to give details, do I?) For legal reasons many laws have to pic an age. 16 for a driver's license, 18 for the draft etc. These ages are somewhat arbitrary so they apply to all fairly (despite the level of muturity)

IMO... 21, your old enough to vote, smoke, drive, serve in the military, & drink. i know u can drive at 16, vote and serve in the military at 18. but u must be 21 to drink.

by 21 you should have a job, money in the bank, own a car, pay ur own bills & start living on ur own, thats when ur an adult.
IMO

Because the idea of "adulthood" in any sense other than sexual maturity is pretty much nothing but a polite fiction anyway.

Puberty has historically marked the line between childhood and adulthood in all species including humans.

When you are independent and paying your own bills.