Raise the Age TX

In Texas, the age of adulthood is typically 18; at that age, juveniles are able to vote, join the military, and buy a lottery ticket. Yet despite this seeming consensus that adulthood begins at 18, juveniles may be charged as an adult for any criminal offense the day they turn 17. Over 25,000 17-year-olds were arrested and subjected to Texas’ adult criminal justice system. This is despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of 17-year-old arrests are for nonviolent and misdemeanor offenses, such as larceny, possession of marijuana, and violation of liquor laws. In the juvenile justice system, these low-level offenses would most likely result in release back into the community, orders to attend rehabilitative treatment, and oversight while completing treatment. Instead, 17-year-olds in the adult criminal justice system face an environment focused on punishment, not rehabilitation. Only the juvenile justice system affords youth the rights to have parents involved, to rehabilitative treatment, to private hearings, and to confidential records. The time is now to Raise the Age in Texas!