Juvenile Justice o Treating youth in an age-appropriate manner will keep them from escalating into violent crime and make the public safer. North Carolina is now the only state that automatically treats 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal court system. Rep. Bordsen has sponsored legislation to bring North Carolina in line with the rest of the country with respect to the age of juvenile jurisdiction. She also pushed for a study by the Governor’s Crime Commission to determine how North Carolina can incorporate 16 and 17 year-olds into the juvenile justice system. o Rep. Bordsen fought to restore $23 million to Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPCs) and to provide an additional $500,000 in funding. JCPC programs are one way to keep juveniles away from crime. Without these vital services, North Carolina will spend more money in the long run on intervention and incarceration. o Additionally, Rep. Bordsen has worked for several years now for the passage of H 898, which provides a way for first-time, non-violent, 16- and 17-year-old offenders to earn their way back to good standing and the possibility of continuing their education and landing a job. The process involves completion of court-ordered punishment, remaining crime-free for two additional years, completion of 100 hours of community service, and a demonstration of good moral character. |