Fresh on the heels of OJJDP’s declaration that adult corrections systems aren’t so hot at helping its juvenile wards stay out of future trouble, the National Center for Juvenile Justice has updated its profiles of state transfer laws.
This is a great resource for advocates who want to demonstrate, for example, that their state’s practices put them in the minority. Click on your state’s name for more in-depth information.
We heard from one interested party in Connecticut that the chart could come in handy when advocates start to push against the mandatory transfer of juveniles charged with felonies. Connecticut is the only state that does not buffer mandatory transfer laws with any discretionary authority for juvenile judges (although there is a reverse waiver for the Superior Court to send youths charged with lesser felonies back down to juvenile jurisdiction).
JJ Today was surprised at how many states have “Once an Adult, Always an Adult” rules, which basically means that any juvenile adjudicated in adult court will be considered an adult for any and all future charges. There are 34 states that use such statutes, according to NCJJ.
