This is a 2008 WCCF publication outlining why 17 year olds should not be charged as adults, including a review of some of the collateral consequences of youth getting an adult arrest and/or court record. Although the numbers have changed, the basic content of this report informs our on-going efforts to raise the age of adult court jurisdiction to age 18.
Youth Justice: Providing Wisconsin Children and Families with a Clear Path to a New Model
Systemic racism and ongoing forms of injustice play a crucial role in youth of color being over-represented at all points of contact within the criminal legal system — from policing to courts to incarceration.
