I know this law is supposed to keep criminals off of the street but I don't think it's fair. I think there is a law that says you are an adult when you are 18 and when you reach that age they can penalize you as such. They don't let you buy cigarettes when you're a 16 year old if you're a mature 16 year old. They don't let you drive a car when your 14 if your a mature 14 year old and in California where the drinking age is 21 they don't let you drink at 19 if you're a mature 19 year old. So I think the courts can just wait if you commit a crime at 16 that they think is worthy of an 18 year old . They can sentence you like a 16 year old, which is what you are. And when you finish your sentence, if you're over 18 and commit another crime, then they can try you as an adult.