We have the latest now on a State Lawmaker that wants to stop allowing children from being charged as adults in criminal cases.
A State Lawmaker says he’s looking to put a stop to juveniles going through the adult system.
The bill is being proposed by a Philadelphia Representative who says juveniles being charged as adults damages the well being of them and their families and may not be best for the future of Pennsylvania.
The law maker says he’s looking to have juveniles be rehabilitated to the best of their ability.
But Somerset Area Defense Attorney Matt Zatko says for some of the serious crimes especially if a repeat offender is being accused rehabilitation from the juvenile system isn’t always enough.
Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers agrees saying the criminal justice system needs flexibility in those types of cases.
Zatko does say he wants to see more exact guidelines for whether cases will stay in the juvenile system or go to adult court and sayers says this could be an opportunity to make needed changes to the system.
That doesn’t achieve justice or the supervision we need in those types of cases.
“Don’t eliminate the ability to move juveniles into adult court, but lets come up with a far more streamlined, a better set of rules.”
The bill is just being proposed at this point so it would have a long way to go before it could become a law