Get Children out of Adult System
When children go to prison,
no one wins. Research shows that prosecuting children in the adult criminal
justice system wastes young lives, fosters crime, does not increase public
safety, and costs society more in the long run.
 Youth charged with a crime
should start in the juvenile justice system, with judges retaining their
current authority to send minors to the adult system for any felony. Of the more than 30,000 minors in the the adult system, more than 85% of them have committed minor crimes.
Evidence shows that the
juvenile system – with programs tailored to how children think and learn – is
more effective at rehabilitating youth. Fewer then go on to commit another
crime, which means lower costs to society and more children growing up to
become educated, employed citizens.
North Carolina
is one of only two states in the nation that still prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds
as adults. Incarcerated children in North Carolina have no right to
rehabilitative programming, mentoring, counseling, or even an education.
Tell North Carolina’s leaders that it’s time to join the rest of
the country by reading and signing on to the Raise the Age Petition. Tell them to throw out this nearly 100-year-old law and put 16-
and 17-year-olds in the juvenile justice system, where they can be treated,
rehabilitated, educated, counseled, and prepared for a successful life. Click here to read a recent CNN article on raising the age in Connecticut and North Carolina.
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