March 2013

North Carolina Legislators to Consider Bill on Trying Youthh in Adult Courts Contact Judiciary Subcommittee TODAY

On March 5, North Carolina legislators introduced a bill that would allow for children as young as 13 to be placed in the adult criminal justice system. HB 217 would remove judicial discretion for certain felonies committed by juveniles 13 years or older.

Currently under North Carolina law, judges weigh the protection of the public and the best interests of the juvenile in determining whether to transfer the case to adult court. Just by a written motion, Section 7 of HB 217 gives prosecutors absolute power to prosecute juveniles 13 years or older in the adult criminal court system and strips juvenile court judges of their decision-making powers.

HB 217 is going to be heard this Wednesday at 10am in the House Judiciary Subcommittee B. We urge all North Carolina AACAP members to help ensure that the bill is not voted out of committee.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 Sign a petition opposing HB 217, developed by the Campaign for Youth Justice.  Call or email the Judiciary Subcommittee. See below for their contact information and use the following talking points to shape your message. o I am NAME, a child and adolescent psychiatrist practicing in [NAME OF CITY/TOWN]. o I am calling to urge you to oppose Section 7 of HB 217. o This section of the bill would remove judicial oversight and lead to the unchecked prosecution of children in addult court. Deciding which court a youth should be processed through is a life-altering decision. o Youth are 36 times more likely to commit suicide in an adult facility than a juvenile detention facility. o Kids in the adult system are 34% more likely than youth in the juvenile court system to be rearrested. o Prosecutors should NOT be given compllete discretioon over our children's future. o Judges should continue to serve as the neutral, unbbiased decision maker in transfer cases. o I urge you to oppose Section 7 of HB 217 in order tto maintain the appropriate checks and balances in NC's court system.

House Judiciary B Subcommittee Members Legislator Phone Email County/District

Rep. 919-733- [email protected] Ashe/Watauga (Chair) 7727 Rep. Chuck McGrady 919-733-

[email protected] Henderson (Chair) 5956 Rep. (Vice 919-733-

[email protected] Wake Chair) 2962 Rep. (Vice 919-733-

[email protected] Guilford Chair) 5877 Rep. (Vice 919-733-

[email protected] Cumberland Chair) 5601 Rep. (Vice 919-733- [email protected] Randolph Chair) 5865 Rep. Mickey Michaux (Vice 919-715-

[email protected] Durham Chair) 2528 919-733-

Rep. (Member) [email protected] Mecklenburg 5607 Rep. 919-733-

[email protected] Forsyth (Member) 5787 Rep. Valerie Foushee 919-715-

[email protected] Durham, Orange (Member) 3019 919-715- Haywood, Jackson,

Rep. Joe Queen (Member) [email protected] 3005 Swain Rep. Bobbie Richardson 919-715-

[email protected] Franklin, Nash (Member) 3032 Rep. Stephen Ross 919-733-

[email protected] Alamance (Member) 5820 Rep. Jason Saine 919-733-

[email protected] Lincoln (Member) 5782

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Kristin Kroeger Ptakowski, Director of Government Affairs & Clinical Practice ([email protected]) Michael Linskey, Assistant Director, Federal Government Affairs ([email protected]) Elizabeth DiLauro, Assistant Director, Grassroots Advocacy ([email protected]) Emma Jellen, Policy Coordinator ([email protected])