Earlier this week New York changed its laws to stop automatically charging all 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. That’s great news! But it now means that North Carolina is the only state in the country to charge all 16- and 17-year olds as adults.
This must change.
We have a chance to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction in North Carolina this year, but we need your help!
Click here to contact your legislators and support HB280, North Carolina’s Raise the Age legislation.
Raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction means that kids will be held accountable for their mistakes without being put in adult correction facilities where they are at greater risk of violence and abuse. Changing the law would also help children get the support they need to become productive law-abiding adults. It means fewer kids will be saddled with an adult criminal record before they are even out of high school. It’s time we start setting our children up for success.
We are launching a virtual advocacy day today on Wednesday, April 12. We will have videos and action items shared on our social media accounts throughout the day. The best way to stay up to date on this legislation and other youth justice issues is to follow us on Facebook.
We challenge you to do the following today:
- Like our Facebook page
- Follow us on Twitter
- Sign the Petition
- Contact your legislators
- Challenge 5 of your friends to do the same!
Let’s pass Raise the Age legislation in 2017!