Stop Sending Texas Kids To Adult Prison
- by: Just Liberty
- recipient: Texas Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick
Texas kids are like most other American youth, but they don't enjoy the same protections from the justice system.
Texas is one of five states which treat 17-year olds as adults for purposes of criminal prosecution. Though they cannot vote, buy cigarettes, or join the military without parental consent, Texas law has them prosecuted as adults.
Most Texans are unaware of this quirk in state law, and generally only find out about it if their high-school junior son gets arrested. Too often, youth end up with a felony tag before they even get out of high-school, hurting their chances to get housing and a job going forward.
Seventeen-year-olds in adult prisons risk being mistreated and abused by other inmates and are at much greater risk of suicide. In January, 17-year old Emmanuel Akueir hanged himself in the Fort Bend County Jail, but in 43 other states he would have been considered a juvenile until he was 18 years old and never locked up in an adult facility. The Sheriffs Association has joined the Texas PTA and the Texas Public Policy Foundation to endorse raising the age to 18 because they want to keep protect these kids and keep them out of their jails.
Help us protect Texas kids from suffering lifelong consequences for youthful mistakes. Texas can join the rest of the nation in treating kids like kids, but legislators need to hear from you now.
Sign the petition today and urge Lt. Governor Patrick to support legislation that would count seventeen-year-olds as juveniles and stop sending Texas children to adult prisons and jails.
Texas is one of five states which treat 17-year olds as adults for purposes of criminal prosecution. Though they cannot vote, buy cigarettes, or join the military without parental consent, Texas law has them prosecuted as adults.
Most Texans are unaware of this quirk in state law, and generally only find out about it if their high-school junior son gets arrested. Too often, youth end up with a felony tag before they even get out of high-school, hurting their chances to get housing and a job going forward.
Seventeen-year-olds in adult prisons risk being mistreated and abused by other inmates and are at much greater risk of suicide. In January, 17-year old Emmanuel Akueir hanged himself in the Fort Bend County Jail, but in 43 other states he would have been considered a juvenile until he was 18 years old and never locked up in an adult facility. The Sheriffs Association has joined the Texas PTA and the Texas Public Policy Foundation to endorse raising the age to 18 because they want to keep protect these kids and keep them out of their jails.
Help us protect Texas kids from suffering lifelong consequences for youthful mistakes. Texas can join the rest of the nation in treating kids like kids, but legislators need to hear from you now.
Sign the petition today and urge Lt. Governor Patrick to support legislation that would count seventeen-year-olds as juveniles and stop sending Texas children to adult prisons and jails.
Dear Lt. Governor Patrick
Kids need our protection. But Texas law treats 17-year olds as adults, which gets them locked up in adult county jails when they're accused of crimes.
HB 122 passed the Texas House last month on a bipartisan vote and I'm writing to urge you to refer it to committee and support it.
Nationwide, 45 other states and the federal government set the age of criminal culpability at 18 years old, with Lousiana, New York, and South Carolina increasing from 17 to 18 in just the last year. Texas should join them.
I want the Legislature to fix this problem by passing HB 122 this session. HB 122 would bring Texas law in line with the rest of the country and give relief to local adult county jails, most of which aren't prepared to comply with Prison-Rape-Elimination Act requirements.
Most of all, though, HB 122 would treat high-school juniors who still live with their parents as children, which is how most Texas parents view them. (The courts may still certify youth as adults if they committed more serious crimes.)
Kids already grow up too fast, the law doesn't need to hurry the process along. Texas should change the law to cease prosecuting most 17-year olds as grownups.
[Your Comment]
[Your Name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionKids need our protection. But Texas law treats 17-year olds as adults, which gets them locked up in adult county jails when they're accused of crimes.
HB 122 passed the Texas House last month on a bipartisan vote and I'm writing to urge you to refer it to committee and support it.
Nationwide, 45 other states and the federal government set the age of criminal culpability at 18 years old, with Lousiana, New York, and South Carolina increasing from 17 to 18 in just the last year. Texas should join them.
I want the Legislature to fix this problem by passing HB 122 this session. HB 122 would bring Texas law in line with the rest of the country and give relief to local adult county jails, most of which aren't prepared to comply with Prison-Rape-Elimination Act requirements.
Most of all, though, HB 122 would treat high-school juniors who still live with their parents as children, which is how most Texas parents view them. (The courts may still certify youth as adults if they committed more serious crimes.)
Kids already grow up too fast, the law doesn't need to hurry the process along. Texas should change the law to cease prosecuting most 17-year olds as grownups.
[Your Comment]
[Your Name]
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