Nearly Half of U.S. States Enact Juvenile Justice Reforms To Keep Youths Out Of Adult Systems

Nearly half of states (23) have enacted juvenile justice reforms since 2011 to prevent some juvenile offenders from involvement in the adult criminal justice system. Eleven states limited state authority to house youth in adult jails or prisons. Another four states expanded their juvenile court jurisdiction to include older youth (some state juvenile justice systems accept offenders up to age 15; older offenders are processed through the adult system). Twelve states changed their transfer laws so that youth are more likely to stay in the juvenile justice system rather than be prosecuted in the adult system. Eight states changed mandatory . . .