The average number of youth charged as adults per year in Pennsylvania between 2017 and 2021 was 450.
Representative Chris Rabb told Channel 11 most of them were automatic as part of the state’s direct file statute that deems teens between the age of 15 and 17 that commit certain crimes to include homicide, rape or aggravated assault to automatically be charged as adults.
“No matter how heinous no matter how violent that crime is, it was committed by a child and our brains aren’t formed until we are 25. This doesn’t excuse the offense, doesn’t excuse the violent act,” Rabb said…