Justice Reform Can’t Ignore Juveniles in the Lone Star State
In a new policy short, R Street Institute Government Affairs Manager for Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties Jesse Kelley finds that if Texas wants to reassert its position as a leader in reforms, the best and most effective way would be to improve its juvenile justice system by raising the age of criminal majority, providing a “second look” for those juveniles who were sentenced to life in prison, and shifting the way the state views and prosecutes youth who have committed serious and violent crimes.
Kelley concludes that in order “to once again lead the way and to create meaningful change in the lives of individuals affected and positive change in our communities, Texas should seriously consider implementing and funding needed juvenile justice reforms, and hopefully, as in the past, other states and even the federal government will follow.”
