The JustChildren Program (JCP) of the Legal Aid Justice Center released a new report today calling on Virginia policy makers to reexamine the state’s current system for trying youth as adults. The report, Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia, examines the impact of the 1996 legislative changes in Virginia that dramatically curtailed the decision making power of juvenile court judges, and finds that the law is overly broad, unbalanced, can be unfairly applied, and can lead to increases in youth re-offending rates. The report’s findings and recommendations are timely as the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently studying the issue of trying youth as adults and is expected to issue their recommendations on December 15, 2009.
See the full report by clicking the link below:
Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia
The report has already attracted media coverage in Virginia:
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/juvenile_sentencing_rule_scrutinized/48979/
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/crime/article/YUTH17_20091116-222814/306196/
Leave a comment