DC AG on Trying 14-Year-Olds as Adults and Juvenile Justice Reform

Victim Services and Support

• 💡 The DC Attorney General's office provides extensive victim services, including counseling and support, to individuals harmed by crime.
• 🤝 These services extend to ensuring victims of domestic violence have opportunities to escape abusive situations and save their lives through protective orders.
• 💔 The office also offers burial and counseling assistance for families of murdered children and other victims of violence.

Juvenile Justice and Accountability

• 🧠 The AG acknowledges that many young people in the criminal justice system struggle with trauma and mental health challenges, which contribute to repeat offenses.
• ⚖️ Holding young people accountable for crimes is a priority, but ignoring underlying causes like mental health issues will perpetuate the problem.
• 🚪 Re-entry services are crucial for providing convicted youth opportunities to break the cycle of crime after serving time in juvenile detention.

Consequences of Adult Prosecution for Minors

• ⚠️ Prosecuting 14-year-olds as adults and placing them in adult facilities can lead to them becoming worse individuals upon release.
• 📈 Over 40% of young people charged as adults are more likely to re-offend compared to those processed and rehabilitated in juvenile court.
• 🚫 Long prison sentences and processing youth through the adult criminal justice system do not enhance long-term public safety.

Rehabilitation vs. Adult Incarceration

• 🎯 Investing deeply in rehabilitation and accountability for young people, while ensuring victims are made whole, can significantly reduce crime and recidivism.
• 📉 A 70% reduction in crime and recidivism was achieved in programs for young women in the juvenile justice system through rehabilitation, not adult prosecution.
• 🏛️ The AG advocates for funding education, childcare, and healthcare to create a safer DC, emphasizing that true safety involves addressing root causes and supporting vulnerable populations.