Tackling Juvenile Crime
After a legislative session with no substantial policy changes to curb juvenile crime, residents statewide are clamoring for immediate action. Vehicles stolen with children inside, shots fired, property ransacked, police officers assaulted...citizens are terrified if not frustrated, and they want reforms to a juvenile justice system that lacks accountability. We've petitioned for a special session .
OUR PLAN FOR REFORM
The continuing flow of alarming crimes committed by teenagers, from shots fired at property owners to stealing vehicles with children inside, prompted House Republican leaders, flanked by caucus members Tuesday, to unveil proposed statutory and policy changes aimed at curbing a crisis that has residents throughout Connecticut clamoring for reforms to the state’s juvenile justice system.
Prevention, Accountability, Rehabilitation...
Through our proposed statutory and policy changes, we attempt to strike a balance between preserving a path for youthful offenders to rehabilitate themselves while also letting them know there are consequences for their criminal actions. Download our proposals here, or use the arrows below to flip through.
- Eliminate in the current definitions of larceny references to motor vehicles and create a new offense of "larceny of a motor vehicle" not tied to the value of the vehicle. First offense of such shall be a class A misdemeanor, a second or subsequent offense shall be a class B felony, therefore eligible for automatic transfer to adult court if the defendant is a juvenile who has met the statutory age.
- Definition of "serious juvenile offense" in 46b-120 be amended to include second or subsequent offenses of the new crime of larceny of a motor vehicle.
- Direct the Judicial Branch, in consultation with the Office of the Public Defender, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Sentencing Commission, to study and report to the Judiciary Committee: the staffing level of juvenile probation officers; the number of juvenile diversionary and pretrial programs, their content, and efficacy in reducing recidivism, and; the availability and efficacy of juvenile job training programs and juvenile drug treatment programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch and Department of Children and Families to jointly study the potential use of DCF group homes and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School to house certain non-violent juvenile offenders, juveniles whose parents or guardians have requested law enforcement or judicial assistance correcting troubling behavior, or as hubs for residential diversionary or job training programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.
- Create an exception to the 6-hour time limit to permit an arresting officer who in good faith is trying to get an order to detain, but has not yet received a response.
- Amend CGS Sec. 46b-133(c)(3)(B) to change "appropriate" alternative to an alternative that the court finds "reasonably likely to be effective" under the circumstances. This statutory change tied to post arrest detention would allow the court to find that releasing the juvenile offender to parents/guardians who have no control over the child is not reasonably likely to be effective.
- In the case of the denial of a police officer's request to detain order sought under 46b-133(c)(3), within 24 hours after the denial, the Judge shall articulate, in writing, the reason for the denial. While 2021's AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA-21-104) requires Judicial Branch to collect statistics on detention requests, requiring judges to provide reasons for denial will help us assess how the system is working.
- Expedited arraignment (next day court is open) for juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Require Family Support Services interventions ordered at arraignment in juvenile court, instead of post-adjudication.
- Give courts the ability to require Department of Children and Families investigations for juveniles charged with a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Amend Section 61 of AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA 21-104) to require data collection by the Judicial Branch of detention requests made by law enforcement officers as well as state's attorneys—the latter group was not included in the legislation, and we believe it's important to collect data on applications made by prosecutors in court during arraignment.
- Institute mandatory around-the-clock electronic/GPS monitoring of juveniles arrested while they are already awaiting trial for a prior offense.
- Juvenile matters adjudicated in the GA where the offense occurred, not where the juvenile resides.
- Expand circumstances in which a matter is automatically transferred to the regular criminal docket to any case charging a juvenile 12 or older of a felony or Class A Misdemeanor that: results in loss of life or serious physical injury; is a violent sexual assault; or is an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Eliminate in the current definitions of larceny references to motor vehicles and create a new offense of "larceny of a motor vehicle" not tied to the value of the vehicle. First offense of such shall be a class A misdemeanor, a second or subsequent offense shall be a class B felony, therefore eligible for automatic transfer to adult court if the defendant is a juvenile who has met the statutory age.
- Definition of "serious juvenile offense" in 46b-120 be amended to include second or subsequent offenses of the new crime of larceny of a motor vehicle.
- Direct the Judicial Branch, in consultation with the Office of the Public Defender, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Sentencing Commission, to study and report to the Judiciary Committee: the staffing level of juvenile probation officers; the number of juvenile diversionary and pretrial programs, their content, and efficacy in reducing recidivism, and; the availability and efficacy of juvenile job training programs and juvenile drug treatment programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch and Department of Children and Families to jointly study the potential use of DCF group homes and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School to house certain non-violent juvenile offenders, juveniles whose parents or guardians have requested law enforcement or judicial assistance correcting troubling behavior, or as hubs for residential diversionary or job training programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.
- Create an exception to the 6-hour time limit to permit an arresting officer who in good faith is trying to get an order to detain, but has not yet received a response.
- Amend CGS Sec. 46b-133(c)(3)(B) to change "appropriate" alternative to an alternative that the court finds "reasonably likely to be effective" under the circumstances. This statutory change tied to post arrest detention would allow the court to find that releasing the juvenile offender to parents/guardians who have no control over the child is not reasonably likely to be effective.
- In the case of the denial of a police officer's request to detain order sought under 46b-133(c)(3), within 24 hours after the denial, the Judge shall articulate, in writing, the reason for the denial. While 2021's AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA-21-104) requires Judicial Branch to collect statistics on detention requests, requiring judges to provide reasons for denial will help us assess how the system is working.
- Expedited arraignment (next day court is open) for juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Require Family Support Services interventions ordered at arraignment in juvenile court, instead of post-adjudication.
- Give courts the ability to require Department of Children and Families investigations for juveniles charged with a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Amend Section 61 of AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA 21-104) to require data collection by the Judicial Branch of detention requests made by law enforcement officers as well as state's attorneys—the latter group was not included in the legislation, and we believe it's important to collect data on applications made by prosecutors in court during arraignment.
- Institute mandatory around-the-clock electronic/GPS monitoring of juveniles arrested while they are already awaiting trial for a prior offense.
- Juvenile matters adjudicated in the GA where the offense occurred, not where the juvenile resides.
- Expand circumstances in which a matter is automatically transferred to the regular criminal docket to any case charging a juvenile 12 or older of a felony or Class A Misdemeanor that: results in loss of life or serious physical injury; is a violent sexual assault; or is an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Eliminate in the current definitions of larceny references to motor vehicles and create a new offense of "larceny of a motor vehicle" not tied to the value of the vehicle. First offense of such shall be a class A misdemeanor, a second or subsequent offense shall be a class B felony, therefore eligible for automatic transfer to adult court if the defendant is a juvenile who has met the statutory age.
- Definition of "serious juvenile offense" in 46b-120 be amended to include second or subsequent offenses of the new crime of larceny of a motor vehicle.
- Direct the Judicial Branch, in consultation with the Office of the Public Defender, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Sentencing Commission, to study and report to the Judiciary Committee: the staffing level of juvenile probation officers; the number of juvenile diversionary and pretrial programs, their content, and efficacy in reducing recidivism, and; the availability and efficacy of juvenile job training programs and juvenile drug treatment programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch and Department of Children and Families to jointly study the potential use of DCF group homes and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School to house certain non-violent juvenile offenders, juveniles whose parents or guardians have requested law enforcement or judicial assistance correcting troubling behavior, or as hubs for residential diversionary or job training programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.
- Create an exception to the 6-hour time limit to permit an arresting officer who in good faith is trying to get an order to detain, but has not yet received a response.
- Amend CGS Sec. 46b-133(c)(3)(B) to change "appropriate" alternative to an alternative that the court finds "reasonably likely to be effective" under the circumstances. This statutory change tied to post arrest detention would allow the court to find that releasing the juvenile offender to parents/guardians who have no control over the child is not reasonably likely to be effective.
- In the case of the denial of a police officer's request to detain order sought under 46b-133(c)(3), within 24 hours after the denial, the Judge shall articulate, in writing, the reason for the denial. While 2021's AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA-21-104) requires Judicial Branch to collect statistics on detention requests, requiring judges to provide reasons for denial will help us assess how the system is working.
- Expedited arraignment (next day court is open) for juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Require Family Support Services interventions ordered at arraignment in juvenile court, instead of post-adjudication.
- Give courts the ability to require Department of Children and Families investigations for juveniles charged with a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Amend Section 61 of AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA 21-104) to require data collection by the Judicial Branch of detention requests made by law enforcement officers as well as state's attorneys—the latter group was not included in the legislation, and we believe it's important to collect data on applications made by prosecutors in court during arraignment.
- Institute mandatory around-the-clock electronic/GPS monitoring of juveniles arrested while they are already awaiting trial for a prior offense.
- Juvenile matters adjudicated in the GA where the offense occurred, not where the juvenile resides.
- Expand circumstances in which a matter is automatically transferred to the regular criminal docket to any case charging a juvenile 12 or older of a felony or Class A Misdemeanor that: results in loss of life or serious physical injury; is a violent sexual assault; or is an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Eliminate in the current definitions of larceny references to motor vehicles and create a new offense of "larceny of a motor vehicle" not tied to the value of the vehicle. First offense of such shall be a class A misdemeanor, a second or subsequent offense shall be a class B felony, therefore eligible for automatic transfer to adult court if the defendant is a juvenile who has met the statutory age.
- Definition of "serious juvenile offense" in 46b-120 be amended to include second or subsequent offenses of the new crime of larceny of a motor vehicle.
- Direct the Judicial Branch, in consultation with the Office of the Public Defender, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Sentencing Commission, to study and report to the Judiciary Committee: the staffing level of juvenile probation officers; the number of juvenile diversionary and pretrial programs, their content, and efficacy in reducing recidivism, and; the availability and efficacy of juvenile job training programs and juvenile drug treatment programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch and Department of Children and Families to jointly study the potential use of DCF group homes and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School to house certain non-violent juvenile offenders, juveniles whose parents or guardians have requested law enforcement or judicial assistance correcting troubling behavior, or as hubs for residential diversionary or job training programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
Make mandatory fingerprinting of juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Allow law enforcement access to all juvenile records to ensure an officer has complete information to use in seeking a post-arrest detention order.
- Create an exception to the 6-hour time limit to permit an arresting officer who in good faith is trying to get an order to detain, but has not yet received a response.
- Amend CGS Sec. 46b-133(c)(3)(B) to change "appropriate" alternative to an alternative that the court finds "reasonably likely to be effective" under the circumstances. This statutory change tied to post arrest detention would allow the court to find that releasing the juvenile offender to parents/guardians who have no control over the child is not reasonably likely to be effective.
- In the case of the denial of a police officer's request to detain order sought under 46b-133(c)(3), within 24 hours after the denial, the Judge shall articulate, in writing, the reason for the denial. While 2021's AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA-21-104) requires Judicial Branch to collect statistics on detention requests, requiring judges to provide reasons for denial will help us assess how the system is working.
- Expedited arraignment (next day court is open) for juveniles arrested for a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Require Family Support Services interventions ordered at arraignment in juvenile court, instead of post-adjudication.
- Give courts the ability to require Department of Children and Families investigations for juveniles charged with a felony, a Class A Misdemeanor, a charge resulting from loss of life or serious physical injury, a sexual assault, a serious juvenile offense, or an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Amend Section 61 of AAC Concerning Court Operations (PA 21-104) to require data collection by the Judicial Branch of detention requests made by law enforcement officers as well as state's attorneys—the latter group was not included in the legislation, and we believe it's important to collect data on applications made by prosecutors in court during arraignment.
- Institute mandatory around-the-clock electronic/GPS monitoring of juveniles arrested while they are already awaiting trial for a prior offense.
- Juvenile matters adjudicated in the GA where the offense occurred, not where the juvenile resides.
- Expand circumstances in which a matter is automatically transferred to the regular criminal docket to any case charging a juvenile 12 or older of a felony or Class A Misdemeanor that: results in loss of life or serious physical injury; is a violent sexual assault; or is an offense involving use of a firearm.
- Eliminate in the current definitions of larceny references to motor vehicles and create a new offense of "larceny of a motor vehicle" not tied to the value of the vehicle. First offense of such shall be a class A misdemeanor, a second or subsequent offense shall be a class B felony, therefore eligible for automatic transfer to adult court if the defendant is a juvenile who has met the statutory age.
- Definition of "serious juvenile offense" in 46b-120 be amended to include second or subsequent offenses of the new crime of larceny of a motor vehicle.
- Direct the Judicial Branch, in consultation with the Office of the Public Defender, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Sentencing Commission, to study and report to the Judiciary Committee: the staffing level of juvenile probation officers; the number of juvenile diversionary and pretrial programs, their content, and efficacy in reducing recidivism, and; the availability and efficacy of juvenile job training programs and juvenile drug treatment programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch and Department of Children and Families to jointly study the potential use of DCF group homes and the Connecticut Juvenile Training School to house certain non-violent juvenile offenders, juveniles whose parents or guardians have requested law enforcement or judicial assistance correcting troubling behavior, or as hubs for residential diversionary or job training programs.
- Direct the Judicial Branch to study and, if feasible, implement victim impact panels in juvenile delinquency proceedings.
- Permit municipalities the ability to provide a property tax credit program for the cost of purchasing home security or automotive anti-theft devices.
ACT NOW TO FIX THE SYSTEM!
CALL Senate Democrats: 860-240-8600
CALL House Democrats: 860-240-8500
CALL Governor Lamont: 800-406-1527
Email your state representative!
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