(NAPSA)—Thereis hopeful news for youngpeopleheldin the adult criminal justice system. A numberof states are beginning to recognizethat youths have developmentaldifferences from adults and in manycases still possess great potential for rehabilitation. In addition, manystates are now taking these factorsinto accountat sentencing. That's the word from advocates such as Jessica Sandoval, Vice President of an organization called Campaign For Youth Justice (CFYd). Sandoval says that over the past eight years, 23 states have enacted 40 piecesoflegislation to reduce the prosecution ofyouthsin adult criminal courts and endthe placementof youthsin adult jails and prisons. She points to a report from CFYJ that documents four trends in justice reform efforts across the country: Eleven states (Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Nevada, Hawaii, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon and Ohio) have passed laws limiting states’ authority to house youthsin adult jails andprisons. Four states (Connecticut, Ilinois, Mississippi and Massachusetts) have expanded their juvenile court jurisdiction so that older youths who previously would have been automatically tried as adults are not prosecuted in adult criminalcourt. Eleven states (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Ilinois, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Ohio, Maryland and Nevada) have changed their transfer laws, making it morelikely that youthswill stay in the juvenile justice system. Eight states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Missouri, Ohio and Washington) have changed their mandatory minimum sentencing laws to take * aN Photo credit: Richard Ross Experts say that over the past eight years, 23 states have enacted legislation to end the Placement of youth in the adult criminal justice system. into account the developmental differences between youth and adults, and allow for post-sentence review for youths facing juvenile life without parole or other sentencing reform for a youth sentenced as an adult. Said Carmen Daugherty, Policy Director for CFYJ, “We now have moreevidence on what does work to reduce juvenile crime, which is rehabilitation and treatment over incarceration. Public opinion strongly favors rehabilitation and treatment over incarceration and judicial review over automatic prosecutionin adult court.” CFYJ works to end the practice of trying, sentencing and incarcerating youth under 18 in the adult criminaljustice system. For a copy of “State Trends— Legislative Victories from 20112013: Removing Youth from the Adult Criminal Justice System,” contact Aprill Turner at (202) 5583580 or aturner@cfyj.org. To contact yourelected officials and share your opinions on your state's policies, visit www.house. gov and www.senate.gov.
