(The Center Square) — Vermont Gov. Bill Scott is asking lawmakers to delay a new law raising the age of juvenile delinquency, citing public concerns about rising youth crime.
In a report to legislative leaders, the Vermont Department for Children and Families asked for the “raise the age” reforms to be paused for “several years” until the state can improve the care system for young offenders.
“Public safety is a big concern of mine and many others across Vermont,” Scott, a Republican, told reporters in remarks on Wednesday. “I think we have to rethink some of what we’ve done over the last two to three years and bring the pendulum back to the center.”
In 2020, Vermont became the first state to pass a “Raise the Age” law expanding family court jurisdiction to non-violent offenders up to the age of 18. The law includes exceptions for serious crimes — or the so-called “Big 12” — such as murder, rape and child sexual assault.
Last year, lawmakers expanded the law to include people up to 19 years old, with plans to cut it off at age 20 by 2024. Those efforts have been pushed back several times, and now the Scott administration is formally asking legislative leaders to shelve the proposal.
In its report, the Scott administration said it “can only recommend continued expansion of the Raise the Age initiative to include 19- year-old delinquent youth/emerging adults when the state has the necessary resources and infrastructure.”
“Expanding the juvenile system to youth who are 19 would place a level of stress on the entirety of the system and further risk negative outcomes for the youth in need of care,” the report’s authors wrote.
Despite the request to pause the law’s expansion, the department said it “continues to stand behind the values” that led to the passage of the Raise the Age legislation.
“Science is clear that the human brain is in development well into a person’s mid-20’s,” the report’s authors wrote. “The adaptability of the adolescent mind is a tremendous strength. Simultaneously, the developing mind is more inclined to prioritize reward over risk.”
