Mississippi Takes a Positive Step in Juvenile Justice

by | July 14, 2011

Home 9 Youth Justice 9 Mississippi Takes a Positive Step in Juvenile Justice ( Page 15 )

On July 1st, Mississippi amended a law that prevents most 17-year-old misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenders from being tried as adults. Felonies including rape, murder, and armed robbery may still warrant charges in the adult court system. Mississippi is the latest and 38th state to make this positive step in juvenile justice. Juvenile advocates see this as a positive step in juvenile justice; on the other hand Mississippi law enforcement and juvenile officials worry that this may negatively affect an already over-burden Youth court system. Their biggest concern is Legislators failed to allocate additional funds to Youth Court system to deal with added expenses.

Juvenile correctional facilities cost more than adult prisons up front but in the long run they are less expensive and better for our communities. Correctional facilities for Juveniles have resources like education and counseling and due to these resources kids show a much lower rate of recidivism.

There has been a national trend the past five years, mostly due to research in brain development in adolescents. Only 11 states, including Wisconsin, still try offenders younger than 18 in adult courts for nonviolent crimes. So, why not Wisconsin??                                         by Allan Goetsch

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