New bill aims to raise age of juvenile accused of crime from 18 to 21

Juvenile Justice System Age Raise Proposed

A new bill that would raise the age of a juvenile accused of a crime being serviced by the juvenile justice system to 21 years old is being considered by Minnesota lawmakers, and drawing concerns from others. FOX 9’s Karen Scullin has the details.

Introduction

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – A new Minnesota bill aims to expand the age of a juvenile accused of a crime from 18 to 21.

Background

“We’re trying to line up what the science tells us and what the data tells us with how our systems actually work – how our criminal justice system works and how we’re dealing with our young people,” said Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), who is a co-author on the bill.

Frazier cites science that says our brains aren’t fully developed well into our twenties as reasoning behind the proposal.

Law Enforcement Perspective

But members of law enforcement say young people know right from wrong, and that you can’t be selective when applying that kind of science.

“Science would have to explain to me again why you are OK if you make a great decision, let’s say to join one of our armed forces at age 18 – then that’s a great decision. But you go out and murder somebody, well, hey your brain’s not quite developed,” Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt told FOX 9. “Somebody needs to teach me – show me why it’s different when it’s a bad decision versus a good decision.”

Concerns about Victims

Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges says the science-based reasoning is forgetting the victims in these crimes.

“A lot of the arguments that they make for a lot of these typically are racial disparity-based arguments, right? The issue is they never talk about the disparity in the victims. We’re always talking about the people who commit these crimes,” Hodges told FOX 9.

Legislative Process

A committee has not heard the bill, though it’s been referred to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. It remains unclear whether the proposal will make it all the way to Governor Tim Walz for approval.

“To think of a 20-year-old as a child, I think that’s a tough hurdle for most of us to get over,” said Hodges.

“Racial disparities have nothing to do with this – this is about what’s right and what’s wrong,” Witt said.

Conclusion

The line of thinking likely sounds familiar, it’s because Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarity has used it when prosecuting juveniles.

But her office tells FOX 9 they had nothing to do with its inspiration.

“This bill does maintain the ability to certify a juvenile as an adult, including first degree murder,” Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), the bill’s lead author, told FOX 9 on Tuesday. “Note that this bill is the beginning of a conversation and will require significant conversation and input.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issue highlighted in the article is related to the juvenile justice system and the proposed expansion of the age of a juvenile accused of a crime from 18 to 21. This aligns with SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels

The proposed expansion of the age of a juvenile accused of a crime aims to address issues related to the treatment of young people within the criminal justice system. By raising the age to 21, it seeks to protect juveniles from abuse, exploitation, and violence (Target 16.2), promote equal access to justice for all individuals (Target 16.3), and ensure inclusive decision-making processes (Target 16.7).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 16.2.1: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
• Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms
• Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions (by sex, age group, persons with disabilities, and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions

Although the article does not explicitly mention indicators, the proposed expansion of the juvenile justice system’s age can contribute to progress towards the identified targets. Indicators such as the number of victims of human trafficking, proportion of reported violence victimization, and representation in public institutions can be used to measure the impact of the proposed changes.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: fox9.com

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