Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice Statement on Minimum Age of Jurisdiction

This statement from the Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice outlines their support for states to adopt a minimum age of juvenile court jurisdiction at age fourteen. The statement includes ten reasons for raising the age of jurisdiction, highlighting that children under the age of fourteen are not yet developed enough to be criminally responsible for their behavior, lack the maturity to be fairly tried in a court of law, damages their well-being, increases the likelihood of recidivism and limits future opportunities and creates racially disparate impact.