As we hope to gear up to raise the age of adult court jurisdiction to 18 in Wisconsin, this issue is attracting national attention as well. A recent item by CNN.com, titled States Rethink ‘Adult Time for Adult Crime’ highlights progress in Illinois and Connecticut as well as discussions going on in New York and North Carolina. Too often it is a tragic incident that finally garners the attention of the public, just as here in Wisconsin the recent arrest of a 13 year-old for allegedly killing his father has raised concerns about Wisconsin’s laws related to original court jurisdiction.
Act Now to Raise the Age in Wisconsin
Every young person in Wisconsin deserves the opportunity to get an education, grow up in safe communities, and realize their potential. However, due to systemic racism and injustice, youth of color are over-represented within the criminal legal system—from policing to...