Effective July 1, 2010 a youth under age 18 whose case has been filed in/waived into adult court and is ordered to be held in secure custody must be held in a juvenile detention or shelter facilities rather than an adult jail until such time as they are convicted as an adult. There are provisions that permit the court to order the youth placed in an adult facility if they present a danger to the health and safety of other juveniles, but even in those situations there are restrictions on how they may be housed in that adult facility.
Whether 17-year-olds are returned to juvenile court jurisdiction or not in Wisconsin, we can at least move forward and ensure that youth under 18 are not held in adult facilities until they are clearly adjudicated and sentenced as an adult!
Early Care & Education: Supporting Wisconsin Families During Children’s Early Years
Regardless of race, place, or income, every child in Wisconsin deserves a strong start in life. This early foundation plays a critical role in life-long health and wellness. But systemic racism and poverty destabilizes families and communities and creates unhealthy conditions and barriers that harm children in their early development. This process of destabilization not only prevents children from having a strong start but can persist over the course of their lives.
