Public Offense Action Law and Legal Definition
A public offense action is an action brought in the interest of a child who is accused of committing an offense relating to firearms and weapons or a public offense which, if committed by an adult, would be a crime. [Petitioner F v. Brown, 2008 Ky. App. LEXIS 42 (Ky. Ct. App. 2008)].
The following is an example of a state statute (Kentucky) on public offense action:
KRS § 600.020. Public offense action means an action, excluding contempt, brought in the interest of a child who is accused of committing an offense relating to firearms and weapons or a public offense which, if committed by an adult, would be a crime, whether the same is a felony, misdemeanor, or violation, other than an action alleging that a child sixteen (16) years of age or older has committed a motor vehicle offense.
