Georgia requires that 17-year-olds be automatically charged and tried as adults for any offense. That's just not right or smart justice. As a constituent of yours, and a voter, I am excited to see that the Georgia House of Representatives is now hearing legislation that will Raise the Age to 18. Please support HB 440 awaiting action in the Juvenile Justice Committee. The Raise the Age proposal keeps most 17-year-olds in the juvenile system where they belong, while still allowing the option of adult charges for the most serious crimes. We're just one of three states with this kind of law still on the books. Six states (Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina) have passed Raise the Age laws in just the last three years. It is unfair to treat 17-year-olds as adults for criminal justice purposes when they can't legally get married, enlist in military service, vote, rent a car, or live independently from parents or guardians. Excluding 17-year-olds from the juvenile system ignores the educational, emotional, and developmental requirements of these children. Raise the Age will ensure that more youth will have access to the age-appropriate services they need to become successful adults. In the adult system, youth are at greater risk of sexual and physical abuse, and suicide. We need to do all we can to protect these children. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), sending youth to the adult criminal justice system increases, rather than decreases, their recidivism, so Raise the Age will likely reduce recidivism and benefit public safety. Adult convictions result in significant barriers to education, employment, and housing. Keeping more youth out of the adult system will improve their chances to lead successful adult lives, and will ultimately benefit the Georgia economy. Your support and vote for the Raise the Age legislation will be a vote for a policy that is better for our youth and also better for the public safety, health and economic well-being of our communities and the state of Georgia.

Georgia requires that 17-year-olds be automatically charged and tried as adults for any offense. That's just not right or smart justice. As a constituent of yours, and a voter, I am excited to see that the Georgia House of Representatives is now hearing legislation that will Raise the Age to 18. Please support HB 440 awaiting action in the Juvenile Justice Committee. The Raise the Age proposal keeps most 17-year-olds in the juvenile system where they belong, while still allowing the option of adult charges for the most serious crimes. We're just one of three states with this kind of law still on the books. Most other states have realized that Raise the Age will ensure that more youth will have access to the age-appropriate services they need to become successful adults. It is also well known that sending youth to the adult criminal justice system increases, rather than decreases, their recidivism, so Raise the Age will likely reduce recidivism and benefit public safety. Your support and vote for the Raise the Age legislation will be a vote for a policy that is better for our youth and also better for the public safety, health and economic wellbeing of our communities and the state of Georgia.

Georgia requires that 17-year-olds be automatically charged and tried as adults for any offense. That's just not right or smart justice. As a constituent of yours, and a voter, I am excited to see that the Georgia House of Representatives is now hearing legislation that will Raise the Age to 18. Please support HB 440 awaiting action in the Juvenile Justice Committee. The Raise the Age proposal keeps most 17-year-olds in the juvenile system where they belong, while still allowing the option of adult charges for the most serious crimes. We're just one of three states with this kind of law still on the books. Six states (Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina) have passed Raise the Age laws in just the last three years. Our current system is both harmful and unfair. It is unfair to treat 17-year-olds as adults for criminal justice purposes when they can't legally get married, enlist in military service, vote, rent a car, or live independently from parents or guardians. It is harmful for many reasons. In the adult system, youth are at greater risk of sexual and physical abuse, and suicide. We need to do all we can to protect these children. Adult convictions result in significant barriers to education, employment, and housing. Keeping more youth out of the adult system will improve their chances to lead successful adult lives, and will ultimately benefit Georgia’s economy. Your support and vote for the Raise the Age legislation will be a vote for a policy that is better for our youth and also better for the public safety, health and economic wellbeing of our communities and the state of Georgia.