NCJ Number
167552
Journal
Juvenile Justice Digest Volume: 25 Issue: 14 Dated: (July 31, 1997) Pages: 1-4
Editor(s)
S M O'Connell
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After eight sessions spanning almost 2 months, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee concluded work July 24, 1997, on a bill that attempts to clamp down on juvenile crime by prosecuting the most violent juvenile offenders as if they were adults; the measure was approved 12-6.
Abstract
The bill's main goals are to turn over the most violent youth offenders to adult courts, loosen restrictions on incarcerating juveniles with adults, and expand the records kept on juvenile offenders. The measure would provide $2.5 billion in incentive grants over 5 years to States that try youths as adults and maintain and share juvenile crime records. Such record-keeping now varies from State to State. Nearly every committee member expressed some reservations about the bill, either on specific provisions or its philosophical underpinnings. Among the most frequent complaints were that the bill would give Federal prosecutors more power to prosecute minor crimes, even so-called status offenses such as violating a curfew. Lawmakers also complained about what States would have to do to receive grant money. Most States would have to pass new laws on juvenile crime records if they want any piece of the $2.5 billion. The committee openly debated some of the more contentious issues, such as gun locks and prevention funding. Lawmakers made major changes to the bill on July 23-24, all by voice vote; the committee rejected several other major amendments. The accepted and rejected amendments are briefly described in this report.