Position Statement: Trying Youth as Adults

Organizations wishing to endorse the campaign may download the organizational signup form and fax to (203) 333-9118

In Connecticut, adult criminal court is not reserved for the most serious, chronic and violent juvenile offenders. In fact, the majority of young people tried as adults are arrested for minor, nonviolent crimes such as drug possession, fighting and disorderly conduct because Connecticut is one of only three states that requires all arrested 16- and 17-year-olds to appear in adult criminal court and to be incarcerated with adults.

Applying adult criminal standards to youth does not promote public safety or reduce crime. Research shows that youth in the juvenile justice system are less likely to re-offend than their peers who are tried and incarcerated in the adult courts for the same crimes.

Connecticut's law is also detrimental for youth because it places them squarely into a gap within the service system. These young people are ineligible for services in the juvenile system and those agencies providing services to those 18 and older are not equipped or required to provide services to youth in the adult criminal court system.

Critics of raising the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 16- and 17-year-olds point to the higher costs associated with the juvenile justice system as a reason to oppose this change. A careful economic analysis shows that an investment in Connecticut's 16- and 17-year-olds by placing them within the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system will save our state millions of dollars in costs attributable to adult incarceration.

The Connecticut Campaign 4 Youth Justice believes and promotes that:

• Connecticut's 16- and 17-year-olds should not be automatically tried and incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system.
  
• The jurisdiction of the Juvenile Matters section of the Superior Court for delinquency and Family With Service Needs should be raised to 18.
• We support balanced and restorative justice for children and youth involved in the juvenile justice system; i.e. personal accountability, competency development and community protection.