Proposed legislation would prohibit minors from being charged as adults in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A bill introduced Thursday by a Philadelphia County legislator would prevent minors from being charged as adults.

State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) introduced House Bill 1383, part of the CARE Package for juvenile justice,.

The bill aims to protect and rehabilitate young Pennsylvanians, Rabb’s office says, by repealing the direct file law. It would require “that all children be treated as children and never prosecuted as adults.”

“Children are children—they should never be charged as adults in our justice system, even if they have done something horrible,” said Rabb. “Research has shown that young people tried as adults have higher rates of recidivism than those who remain in the juvenile system. We cannot continue this cruel, unnecessary punishment that forces children into the adult prison system.”

“We know there are fundamental design problems with how Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system is set up to handle children,” state Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) said of the CARE Package. “These bills are targeted to address those specific issues. This package of legislation is all about creating a justice system that allows kids greater opportunities to escape the cycle of recidivism and lead fulfilling and impactful lives.”