MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Scott administration will once again be asking state lawmakers to push back major juvenile justice reforms.
Vermont in 2020 became the first state to pass the “Raise the Age” law, classifying 18-year-olds as juveniles in the criminal justice system. It’s based on emerging science that brain development isn’t complete until well into someone’s 20s and that mistakes earlier in life should not permanently hobble future opportunities. The law was supposed to expand to 19 and eventually 21-year-olds but for the fourth year in a row administration officials say they don’t have enough staff or secure facilities.
“My real concern is we’d have more youth than we can serve well,” said DCF Deputy Commissioner Aryka Radke.
Top Democratic lawmakers accuse the Scott administration of purposefully pushing back the law. “This sounds like “Groundhog Day” to me, and not accidental “Groundhog Day,” but purposeful ”Groundhog Day,” said Senate President Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden County.
Some lawmakers are concerned a delayed timeline could also have an impact on the proposed youth rehab facility in Vergennes.