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Community Corner

Representative Hill Announces the House of Representatives

House Minority Whip Bradford R. Hill (R-Ipswich) is pleased to announce that during session today the Massachusetts House of Representative enacted  House Bill 1432, An Act to Raise the Upper Limit of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction from 17 Years Old to 18 Years of Age. This piece of legislation was filed at the beginning of the legislative session in conjunction with Representative Kay Khan (D-Newton).

 

This bipartisan legislation will put an end to the common-practice of automatically trying and sentencing 17-year-olds as adults, regardless of how minor the charges. If adopted, the legislation would instead raise the upper limit of juvenile court jurisdiction to 18 years-old.

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“I am pleased that the House enacted this important piece of legislation today,” stated Representative Hill. “By passing this bill not only are we protecting children from the harsh reality of the adult prison system, but we are also complying with the Federal Prison Elimination Act, which sole purpose is to aimed at move 17-year-olds out of the adult corrections system.”

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The Massachusetts Senate is scheduled to take up the matter on Monday September 9. If enacted by the Senate the legislation will then be in the hands of the Governor for his signature.

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