Research over the past 20+ years affirms that trying youth in adult court has a detrimental impact on community safety as well as on many 17-year-olds. Current Wisconsin law excludes all 17-year-olds from the juvenile court and the services available through that venue. Even if prosecutors and judges wanted to include a 17-year-old in an appropriate juvenile service or program, they are unable to do so. Researchers have studied how best to promote public safety and meet the needs of 17-year-olds in several different ways.
Statement: Raise the Age in Wisconsin
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 At Kids Forward, we firmly believe that every child in Wisconsin deserves to be treated like a child. Yet, our state continues to tragically lag almost every other state in the country when it comes to youth justice reform. In the wake of the...
