New Report Shows Trend of Nearly Half the States Changing or Considering Change
Washington, D.C. – More than 20 states in the United States have changed or are considering changes to their policies around trying kids as adults according to a new report, State Trends: Legislative Changes from 2005-2010 Removing Youth from the Adult Criminal Justice System, released today bythe Campaign for Youth Justice.
State Trends highlights the policy changes by examining the impact that the reforms have already had, as well as showcasing states currently contemplating reforms. In the past 5 years, 15 states have changed their state policies and at least another 9 are underway with active policy reform efforts. The reportstarts with an overview of the major problems that result from trying youth in adult criminal court, and then examines four distinct ways that States and local jurisdictions are changing the politics of youth crime.
In this report we have identified four specific types of trends.
* States and Local Jurisdictions Remove Youth from Adult Jails and Prisons
* States Raise the Age of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
* States Change Transfer Laws to Keep More Youth in Juvenile Court
* States Rethink Sentencing Laws for Youth
The following states are included in these trends: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Other states mentioned in the report that are on the horizon for reform are Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
“State policy makers are beginning to understand the overwhelming research that kids are not adults and need educational and rehabilitative services,” said Neelum Arya, State Trends Author and Research and Policy Director for the Campaign for Youth. “State Trends documents the ineffectiveness of prosecuting youth in adult criminal court and tracks the trends of returning to the original promise of the juvenile court.”
In the rush to crack down on youth crime in the 1980s and 1990s, many states enacted harsh laws making it easier for youth to be prosecuted in adult criminal courts. Every state allows youth to be prosecuted as adults by one of several mechanisms such that an estimated 250,000 children are prosecuted, sentenced, or incarcerated as adults each year in the United States. In more than half of the states, there is no minimum age limit on who can be prosecuted as an adult. This means that in these states very young children, even a 7-year-old, can be prosecuted as adults.
Tribute to Dijoun Quinn of Commerce City... There is now a $2500 reward posted by the Commerce City
A Shooting Claims the life of 18 year old Dijoun Quinn... COMMERCE CITY - The Commerce City Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in the 6500 block of Holly St. Officers responded to a report of shots being fired in the area. When they arrived they found a male lying on the ground. It appears that an 18 year old male was walking southbound on Holly St when he was shot multiple times. The male was transported to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Commerce City police identified the 18-year-old as Dijoun Quinn, a recent graduate of Adams City High School who had enlisted in the Army. Quinn's Grandfather says his grandson didn't have any enemies and was not in a gang. There is no suspect information available at this time, and investigators are encouraging anyone with information to contact Detective Bryan VanderMeer at 303-289-3629 or the Commerce City Tip Line at 303-289-3626. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available.
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