by Representative Marilyn Avila
Crime is everyone’s problem, as sheriffs and police, judges and district attorneys know all too well. It’s equally apparent that a system that creates career criminals only makes things worse.
Yet career criminals are what North Carolina’s justice system all too often turns out. Because of the outdated way we treat children who commit low-level crimes, we unwittingly turn one mistake into a revolving door of crime and incarceration, with taxpayers picking up the tab.
Law enforcement, educators, elected officials and others I’m meeting with this summer and fall increasingly agree that to ensure a safer, more prosperous future, North Carolina must change the way it deals with kids who break the law. If we fail to act soon, the federal government may step in and preemptively act for us.
Currently, North Carolina is one of only two states that throw 16 and 17 year-olds who commit non-violent crimes into the adult justice system. This does not equate to being tough on crime. On the contrary, our system in some ways actually fosters more crime.
Research shows that the adult system fails both to punish chil-dren meaningfully and give them the sturdy structure they need to eventually pull their own weight. Kids who go through the adult system are re-arrested, re-convicted, re-incarcerated and have their probation revoked at higher rates than other adult offenders. And even those who avoid breaking the law have trouble landing a decent job or getting into college because of the mark on their records.
Clearly, as the vast majority of states have decided, this system needs fixing. Fortunately, the solutions are road tested and, even in hard economic times, well within reach.
A bipartisan bill to be consid-ered next year by the General Assembly would “Raise the Age” at which North Carolina sends young people who commit low level crimes to the adult system from 16 to 18.
Under this common sense sys-tem, children would be required to make restitution to their vic-tims and submit to far more in-tensive oversight by the youth justice system than they currently receive. They will pay for breaking the law. They will learn their lessons. And, because they’ll remain in school, they will have the same shot at building productive, self-reliant lives as kids in 48 other states.
“Under this common sense system” it should read “than they currently receive”.
Rest assured, youth who com-mit violent crimes will still be transferred to adult prison. Raising the Age will only affect non-violent children, and allow prosecutors, sheriffs, police and prison guards to focus their attention and scarce jail beds on those who truly threat3en public safety.
Former NC Supreme Court Justice Robert F. Orr has joined the chorus of leaders urging lawmakers to pass the Raise the Age bill and end our current “de-structive, one-size-fits-all” sys-tem. Many educators, faith lead-ers and law enforcement officials are also adamant supporters.
While this wide support is encouraging, we still have work to do. We must look at holding down costs. Preventing crime is a money-saver in the long run, but will require some short-term investment. And we must con-sider how to most efficiently phase in the new and improved system.
This fall, I look forward to working hard with law enforcement and others to hammer out these details before our next legislative session. We owe this much to North Carolina’s children and taxpayers.
Rep. Marilyn Avila (R) is the “Raise the Age” bill sponsor in the NC House of Representatives. She resides in Raleigh and represents Wake County.