Senate Leadership
July 24, 2006
Looney Appoints Meyer to Critical "Raise the Age" Planning Committee
State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) today announced the appointment of state Sen. Edward Meyer (D-Guilford) to the state Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee. The committee, authorized by the General Assembly in its 2006 session, is responsible for studying the so-called "raise the age" issue-whether 16-year-old and 17-year-old children should continue to be charged with crimes as adults or whether the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system should be expanded to cover 16- and 17-year olds. The committee would oversee the planning for any changes to the current law.
"I can't think of a more qualified and experienced person to appoint to this important committee than Sen. Meyer," Sen. Looney said. "The age at which a young person should charged with crimes as an adult is one of the more controversial and hotly debated juvenile justice issues of our time. As senate chairman of the legislature's Select Committee on Children, Sen. Meyer will bring a unique perspective to the committee. His legal experience, knowledge and leadership will be of great value in these important deliberations. I appreciate his willingness to make the commitment to this crucial panel."
Connecticut is one of only three states that consider all 16- and 17-year-olds, regardless of offense, to be adults in the criminal justice system. The new task force would examine changes necessary to raise the age for delinquency matters to 18.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
