The JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center released a new report calling on Virginia policy makers to reexamine the state’s current system for trying youth as adults.  The report, Don’t Throw Away the Key: Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia, examines the impact of the 1996 legislative changes in Virginia that dramatically curtailed the decision making power of juvenile court judges, and finds that the law is overly broad, unbalanced, can be unfairly applied, and can lead to increases in youth re-offending rates.  The report’s findings and recommendations are timely as the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently studying the issue of trying youth as adults and is expected to issue their recommendations on December 15, 2009.
 
See the full report by clicking the link below:
Don't Throw Away the Key:  Reevaluating Adult Time for Youth Crime in Virginia
 
The report's release has been widely covered in Virginia newspapers:
 
"Juvenile Sentencing Rule Scrutinized"  Daily Progress, November 17, 2009
"Study Criticizes Virginia's Handling of Youth Offenders" Richmond Times Dispatch, November 17, 2009
"Study: Courts Too Often Treat Juveniles as Adults" The News & Advance, November 17, 2009
"Teen Crime Needs Balanced Response" The Virginian Pilot, November 22, 2009
"Community Safety: Time to Rethink Our Approach to Juvenile Sentencing" Richmond Times Dispatch, November 23, 2009