Raise the Age CT: Keeping Our Promise
In 2007, Connecticut's legislature promised to end our state's practice of sending 16 and 17 year olds to the adult criminal system effective January 1, 2010. Aside from serious and violent offenders, minors will be under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system.
Connecticut is one of only three states to try all 16 and 17 year olds as adults – no matter how minor their crime. This historic reform:
- Makes our communities safer, as study after study shows youth are less likely to reoffend when they have access to the juvenile system's more extensive rehabilitative services.
- Holds young people accountable in an environment that is safe and effective in encouraging healthy development and more positive behavior.
- Brings Connecticut in line with national best practices
The legislature created the Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Oversight Coordinating Council (JJPOCC) to ensure Connecticut's juvenile justice system is ready to effectively serve 16 and 17 year olds in 2010. During the 2009 session, technical changes to statutes must be made to enable a smooth transition. Also, state agencies must receive appropriate funding to keep the commitments we made to provide better services and treatment opportunities for our youth and better outcomes for our communities.
Unless this critical work is done in the 2009 session, the much-touted Raise the Age reform will simply be a piece of paper rather than a meaningful change in the lives of young people and the safety of our communities.
What You Can Do
Join the YES campaign and ask your legislators to:
- Hold all state agencies and organizations accountable for the policy and practice changes necessary to implement Raise the Age on schedule.
- Support JJPOCC recommendations on statutory changes to implement Raise the Age.
- Support legislation, policy and practice that prevent youth crime, including:
- Full implementation of Family With Service Needs reforms
- Policies that keep kids in school, including truancy prevention and intervention, positive school culture initiatives and proactive alternatives to suspensions and expulsions
- Invest in quality treatment and services that save money by lowering recidivism.
Do you want to say YES to Connecticut's youth and help spread the word?
Contact Jacqueline at the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance at 203-579-2727 or jacqueline@ctjja.org to join the effort. Visit our website at www.ctjja.org.