Scenario: You are a police officer and get dispatched to a school in regard to a fight. When you arrive you contact a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old who were in the principal's office with their parents. The parents are demanding prosecution of the instigator of the fight, who turns out to be the 12-year-old. Remember the juvenile is under 14 years old and there is a specific criterion that must be met. As a police officer you have to take action and since the parents' demand prosecution, you really do not have discretion to exercise the Spirit of the Law.

Since the offender is only 12 years old, what do you have to establish and show before you can cite and release them to their parent?

How do you as a police officer confirm that the juvenile is mentally capable of being prosecuted since they are under 14 years of age?

Do not just give a generic answer, make sure you explain this in detail.