New laws protect children in a variety of ways
Racial disparity in the criminal justice system has long been a topic under discussion with those working toward prison reform . Usually the focus is on adults, but Connecticut has recognized that children of color make up the majority of detainees. Recently, Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law a bill designed to correct that shameful situation. The new law states that a child cannot be sent to juvenile detention unless a court order decrees so. This extra measure of protection for juvenile offenders ensures that those accused of minor crimes will not automatically be tossed into juvenile jail to await a court date that might take months.
The bill had bipartisan support, as both Democratic and Republican lawmakers agreed that juvenile detention should be the last resort for a child, and only used to hold those charged with serious offenses, or for those deemed to be a flight risk.
Michael Lawlor understands the consequences of juvenile detention. Lawlor, a former prosecutor, and now the Undersecretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning at the Office of Policy and Management under Gov. Malloy, was instrumental in getting the new juvenile justice reform laws on the books. While agreeing that the new laws are a step in the right direction, Lawlor also believes that more diversity is needed in the courtroom. Lawlor told Patch.com, “Judges need to de as diverse as the people they preside over,” as he called for more female, Latino and African-Americans on the bench
Two other bills that will aid juvenile offenders were also signed by Malloy. Connecticut used to treat 16-year olds as adults, until 2010. With the stroke of his pen, Malloy raised that age to 17, starting in 2012. The Governor also signed the Act Concerning Juvenile Reentry. Juveniles held in detention usually were not able to go back to school immediately after release. With the new law in place, the re-registration procedure will be much quicker.
Source: Patch.com
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