Home >> Facts & Laws

The Power of Truth
Laws that prosecute youth as adults are on the books in most states. These laws, combined with other statutes, are putting thousands of young people at risk every day of facing harmful and irreversible consequences, often for minor mistakes. Some researchers estimate that as many as 200,000 youth are prosecuted as adults every year. Despite overwhelming research demonstrating that these policies have failed, statutes that prosecute youth in the adult criminal justice system remain on the books.

Research shows that:

• 23 states have no minimum age for transferring a youth to adult court; in all other states, the minimum age is 10 to 15.
• Children are more likely to re-offend after serving in adult jails and prisons.
• Youth convicted in the adult system receive little or no rehabilitative programming, which is mandated in the juvenile system.
• On any given day, more than 7,000 children are in adult jails.
• The number of youth placed in adult jails has increased by 208% since 1990.
• Children in adult prisons are at increased risk of abuse, sexual assault, suicide, and death.

See more…