Valley officers cautiously support effort to put 16, 17 year olds back in juvenile system
BY ROGER BELL
STAFF WRITER
A Roanoke Valley voice in the state house is joining the effort to change how youth offenders are treated in the criminal justice system.
State Rep. Michael Wray, D-Gaston, said he is supporting the effort spearheaded by state Rep. Alma Adams, D-Greensboro, who is chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, to alter the state’s current law mandating criminal defendants 16 and older be treated as adults.
The initiative, known as Raise the Age, would allow some o f f e n d e r s, ages 16 and 17, charged with minor, or lower-level crimes, to be put into the juvenile system, rather than be tried as adults.
“I support the bipartisan initiative to Raise the Age because it is both smart and tough on crime,” Wray said. “Raising the Age will ensure kids who commit minor crimes do the time, pay for their mistakes Adult crimes at what age? Valley officers cautiously support effort to put 16, 17 year olds back in juvenile system rather than be tried as adults.
“I support the bipartisan initiative to Raise the Age because it is both smart and tough on crime,” Wray said. “Raising the Age will ensure kids who commit minor crimes do the time, pay for their mistakes…
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/rrdailyherald.com/content/tn…
“If they do a better job of reforming kids than the (adult) court system, than I agree prison is not the best place for them.”
— Jeff Frazier, Halifax County sheriff