BOSTON, MA – A hearing was held last week on a Massachusetts bill that would increase the age in the juvenile court, and a law enforcement group is expressing their thoughts on the legislation.
The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association has submitted testimony opposing House Bill 1923, which would gradually raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 21.
“While the bill aims to promote better outcomes for youth, it would create major challenges for public safety, campus investigations, and accountability. At 18, individuals can vote, serve in the military, sign contracts, and even sit on a jury to determine someone else’s guilt, yet under this proposal, they would not be fully responsible for their own criminal actions…