How young is too young to be charged with a crime? That’s a question Colorado lawmakers are debating as they consider a bill that would raise the age that children can be criminally charged
That’s a question Colorado lawmakers are debating.
“This is a great opportunity for us to prevent future victims and future crimes,” said State Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver, one of the bipartisan bill’s chief sponsors. Colorado lawmakers consider raising age children can face criminal charges Under the proposal, 10, 11, and 12-year-olds accused of crimes would not go through the juvenile court as they do now.
“When we're catching this at the front end, when kids are young and impressionable, this is the best time to have that influence and show that change your behavior,” said Gonzales-Gutierrez. Data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation shows around 80 children between the ages of 10 and 12 were arrested for violent crimes last year, which included aggravated assaults and non-consensual sexual offenses.Despite the small number of arrests in this age group, opponents who testified against the bill believe it will cause significant harm, and they described the network of outside agencies the program would rely on as impractical and unproven.
“Victims will be left without trust that the offender will be held accountable and without any assurance they and others will be safe,” Martin told lawmakers.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What might cuts to dwindling Colorado River mean for states?The Biden administration floated two ideas this week for how Western states and Native American tribes could reduce their water use from the dwindling Colorado River. In recent years, an imbalance …
Read more »
State lawmakers introduce bill to regulate intoxicating hemp market in ColoradoState lawmakers are trying to regulate the intoxicating hemp market in Colorado, saying kids and teens are easily getting their hands on these products. via AmyWadas
Read more »
Seattle Kraken to face the Colorado Avalanche in first round of Stanley Cup playoffsThe chase for the Cup begins Monday.
Read more »
Opinion | Last year’s sunflowers save this year’s gardenIn high northern Colorado, where the snow still falls, a gardener patiently anticipates spring flowers.
Read more »