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Justice for Wisconsin Youth

All kids deserve fair treatment in court. WCCF seeks to ensure that youth are treated through the juvenile court so their developmental needs can be better accounted for throughout the court and rehabilitative process.

Research shows that providing developmentally appropriate treatment significantly reduces future criminal activity. Incarcerating youth with adults increases the likelihood they will re-offend more quickly and more seriously.

Recent News

A new bill, AB732, to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 17, starting with less serious cases in 2011 and moving all 17 year-olds to juvenile court as of July 1, 2012 was introduced in the legislature by Representative Fred Kessler on February 11, 2010. A hearing on the bill was held by the Assembly Committee on Corrections and Courts on April 1, but the bill was not voted on by the committee nor other action taken prior to the end of the session.

Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission unanimously approves returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile system. Read the commission's statement related to Wisconsin's age of adult Criminal Responsibility.

WCCF Report: Risking Their Futures: Why trying nonviolent 17-year-olds as adults is bad policy for Wisconsin.  WCCF analyzed 1,000 17-year olds for over six years to track their recidivism rates after an adult conviction.  Overall 70 percent of the youth committed new crimes, and 80 percent of the youth who were jailed committed new crimes. Read the full report and WCCF press release. Governor’s Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities in the Justice System recommends returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system.  Read WCCF’s statement and read full report.

WCCF is collecting names of people and organizations who want to return 17-year-olds to the juvenile court system.  See details and add your name to the list.

Project Goals

Return 17-year-olds to the original jurisdiction of the juvenile courts;

Create a statutory preference for diverting non-violent juvenile offenders;

Require data tracking by race and ethnicity of kids waived into adult court.
 

Project Staff

Questions? Contact Jim Moeser.