Years ago, we created a bipartisan Juvenile Justice Task Force to analyze our juvenile justice system and to submit ideas about how to make it better. Accordingly, the Task Force authored dozens of recommendations that were designed to improve outcomes and accountability in addition to saving money. Unfortunately, much of their work has yet to be enacted by the legislature. While the most recent efforts by the Senate were laudable, they fall short of building off of the promise of the task force’s work.
 
This bill attempts to expand the most recent efforts put forth by the Senate. It aims to target multiple recommendations by the Task Force that relate solely to the sections of law that were addressed by the Senate. Specifically, this includes Task Force recommendations 15, 16, 21, 22, and 28. These sections address disposition, commitment, education, and restitution.
 
Clearly, this bill adopts more of the Taks Force’s work; but unlike other omnibus efforts, it still leaves dozens of recommendations on the table. By taking a large bite of the apple we can move expeditiously to adopt the game-changing reforms our system so clearly needs.
 
Please join me in making sure that the recommendations by our Task Force are not ignored.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3761: 42-6352(a)(6), 42-6353