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Texas is one of six states that tries 17-year-olds as adults. But a new bill wants Texas to follow the national trend of raising the age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18.
, authored by Reps. Jr. (D-Houston) and (D-Houston), last week and could be on its way to the Senate.
Wu says that on the practical side, moving 17-year-old suspects from the adult criminal justice system to its juvenile justice counterpart would bring Texas in line with the federal standard of considering 18-year-olds adults.
鈥淔rom a more philosophical side, a 17-year-old can't sign contracts, they can't serve on a jury, they can't buy tobacco, they can't consent to their own medical care, they can't join the military [and] they can't vote because we say they鈥檙e not emotionally and intellectually mature enough,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淏ut yet we say we can put you in prison for that same immaturity.鈥�
What you鈥檒l hear in this segment:
鈥� Why Wu believes this bill could save the state thousands of dollars a week
鈥� How Wu responds to one of the bill鈥檚 main critics, Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston)
鈥� Where the bill stands in the Legislature
Written by Molly Smith.
