Bill > HB06385

This bill proposes to gradually raise the minimum age at which a child can be arrested and brought under juvenile court jurisdiction in Connecticut, moving from the current age of ten to fourteen years old through a phased approach. Specifically, the bill will first raise the minimum age from ten to twelve years old, effective July 1, 2026, and then further increase it from twelve to fourteen years old, effective July 1, 2028. This change means that children under the specified ages cannot be formally arrested or processed through the juvenile justice system, which represents a significant shift in how the state handles young offenders. The bill aims to recognize that very young children may not have the cognitive capacity to fully understand legal consequences and seeks to prevent early criminalization of youth by keeping them out of the formal justice system during their early developmental years. By implementing these changes in stages, the legislation provides time for law enforcement, courts, and social service agencies to adapt their practices and develop alternative approaches to addressing youth misconduct.

Justice

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06385&which_year=2025