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.
Explained: End Juvenile Life Without Parole in Wisconsin
Wisconsin relies far too much on incarceration and blames children for system-wide failures. Instead of incarceration, a better investment for Wisconsin’s youth is in basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Wisconsin should reimagine a community-based continuum of care grounded in youth voice, emerging adult research, and cross-system collaboration.
