Children's perceptions of criminal justice were examined for three types of crimes: assault, arson and treason. They were told about mitigating circumstances which consisted of brain damage, passion and economic need. These were contrasted to a situation in which no mitigating circumstances were offered. The results indicated that the subjects aged 7 to 17 years generally progressed with age from making legal judgements mitigated by a variety of circumstances to recognizing few situations in which such circumstances apply. While, in some cases, younger children were harsher in their judgements than older ones, their leniency and acceptance of mitigating circumstances were highly dependent on the situation. The findings are discussed in terms of legal socialization processes.