Durham, NC - North Carolina is considering changing a law that treats all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults rather than as juveniles when they are arrested. North Carolina and New York are the only two states with such laws.

Members of the legislative committee hearing this bill have recently received the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy briefing report on the "Raise the Age" issue:   http://childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/pdfs/familyimpact/2007/BriefingReport_07.pdf.

Joel Rosch
Senior research scholar and policy liaison, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
 jbrrosch@duke.edu
http://www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/people_detail.php?p=jbrrosch&t=policy

Quote:
"Moving 16- and 17-year-old misdemeanants from the adult to the juvenile justice system is one of those win-win propositions. Based on what we have seen in other states, it will reduce crime, make the system more just, and in the long run save the state money."

Anne Marie Iselin
Research scientist, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University
annemarie.iselin@duke.edu
http://www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/people_detail.php?p=ari&t=research

Quote:
"There are many evidence-based treatments for youth that lead to long-term reductions in violence, drug use, and mental health symptoms. Raising the age in North Carolina would give youth who come into contact with the law access to such interventions, which means long-term gains for both the individual and the broader community."