The Crime Report (9/16/19)
During the “tough on crime” era of the 1980s and 1990s, in some states, young people as young as 12 charged with certain offenses could be prosecuted as adults in most U.S. states.
Until recently, Florida and Wisconsin state laws even permitted the transfer of children younger than 12 to adult court.
But thanks to the work of researchers and advocates, that has gradually begun to change, as a number of state legislatures have passed so-called “raise the floor” bills that increased the minimum age of prosecution as an adult for all or some offenses to 16 or 17—and in some states, 18— according to a briefing paper released by the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFYJ).
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