Campaign for Youth Justice - News of Youth -- NAPS-TV

IN AN EFFORT TO CUT JUVENILE CRIME AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, FIFTEEN STATES HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION REMOVING YOUTH FROM THE ADULT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THATʼS ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, "STATE TRENDS:
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES FROM 2005 TO 2010," BY THE CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE.
ACCORDING TO "STATE TRENDS"ʼS AUTHOR, NEELUM ARYA, THE REPORT EXAMINES THE MAJOR PROBLEM OF TRYING KIDS AS ADULTS AND FOCUSES ON TWO DOZEN STATES THAT ARE CHANGING THEIR POLICIES.

ONE STATE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RAISING THE AGE OF JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION WAS CONNECTICUT. STATE REPRESENTATIVE TONI WALKER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS EFFORT.

"RAISE THE AGE HAS SAVED OUR STATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE IT HAS ALLOWED US TO TAKE THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE PATH TO INCARCERATION AND PUT THEM INTO THE PATH OF EDUCATION."

AN ESTIMATED QUARTER-MILLION CHILDREN ARE PROSECUTED AS ADULTS EACH YEAR IN THE US. IN SOME STATES, CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS SEVEN CAN BE PROSECUTED AS ADULTS.

TO LEARN MORE OR SEE THE REPORT, VISIT CAMPAIGNFORYOUTHJUSTICE.ORG